#18 Mid-week Quickie (on a Saturday)
Vintage Rolex, Piaget & Chopard watches, Merit Lip Liners and fashion finds under $250
Hi Friends!
It’s Aus GP race week and I’m in Melbourne! Which is why you’re receiving this on a Saturday. My week has been nuts (in the best way), running around Melbourne to various F1 activities - like Glamour on the Grid on Wednesday night. Thursday I went to the track to check out the Mecca Max activation and today I’m heading there to watch Practice 3 and Qualifying with my sister. I am EXCITED.
I recently posted a Formula 1 deep dive, ‘Why Formula 1 is actually for the girls,’ you can read it here if you’d like.
Why Formula 1 is actually for the girls
Note: This substack is a little long - if you’re reading this via your email, it’ll say ‘View Entire Message’ at the bottom - click on that to keep reading, or view the entire newsletter in the Substack app (my preferred way of consuming these). PS All the fashion related content is at the end :)
In that Substack I put together multiple moodboards about what to wear to an F1 weekend. During my research in compiling the looks, I went down a total rabbithole on the current & Other Stories and Aere offerings - there were so many standouts. & Other Stories makes clothing at a great pricepoint and pieces that are generally very good quality. For example you can get 100% wool jumpers that look like The Row for $169.
And this sculptural jumper in a dusty light yellow ($155, 100% organic cotton).
From Aere (The Iconic’s in house brand) I also love, love, loved this jacket ($250).
The colour of these suede ballet flats also sparked major joy for me.
Full edit of F1 outfits here - the edits also absolutely double as great Spring or Autumn looks too.
Leonard Joel Fine Jewellery and Timepiece auction
One of my biggest passions is antique/vintage jewellery and watches. Due to my algorithm knowing me inside and out, I was served a very spot on ad for the upcoming Leonard Joel Fine Jewellery and Timepiece auction. The timing was perfect as they had viewing appointments last weekend in Sydney, before the upcoming auction in Melbourne. Angus and I went to view our favourites from the catalogue on Saturday and it was the most fun. The staff were so lovely, complete experts in their field and we tried on so many pieces and learnt so much along the way.
If you love preloved, antique, vintage jewellery - I highly recommend exploring your local auction houses. It’s the best way to find unique, beautiful things - generally at lower prices.
Here are some of my favourites:
Watches
Jewellery
In April I’ve booked myself in for some short courses to learn more about antique jewellery and gemology. I’m really looking forward to this and excited to see where this goes. I’ve been thinking about doing this for so long so I’m just happy I’m taking steps in that direction. That’s my main energy this year (and hopefully beyond) - to actually do the things I’ve been thinking about.
Morgan Stewart/Valentino
I am always living for anything Morgan Stewart wears and does - her style and wardrobe is completely unmatched. And her recent Paris Fashion Week escapades have been flawless. This specific look, wearing a current season Valentino jacket stopped me in my tracks - I am weak for a top tier jacket.
A quick google and I found it’s called the Jaguar Spots caban coat - $9.8k and it’s all yours!
Plum Sykes
A relatively new addition to Substack, British journalist and novelist, Plum Sykes is a MUST subscribe. Her first post was about the do’s and don’t’s of being a houseguest in a certain sect of England; it was brilliant. Her commentary on society is hilarious and so astute, her attention to detail and tongue in cheek/witty tone just lights me up. She makes me wish I was British.
Posse
Late last week I was kindly invited to the Posse sample sale that took place on Oxford St, Paddington. I walked away with 4 pieces and the standouts are this jumper + top. I really love what Posse are doing - as I’ve shared in previous Substacks. A great Australian brand to check out.
Beauty bits
Late last week I visited the new The Parlour Room, next to the new Eve Hotel in Redfern. The space is big, beautifully designed and tranquil. I had one of their signature massages - super relaxing. They also offer facials, manicures and pedicures, body wraps, waxing, spray tans, brow and lash treatments, infrared saunas - they really have it all.
Lip liner is one of my favourite makeup categories and now, Merit has come out with their own, the Signature Lip Sheer Lip Liner. Everything I’ve tried from Merit has deeply impressed me and quickly become a go-to in my makeup repertoire.
The new Merit Lip Liner is a soft-gel, nondrying, sheer but buildable formula and has a satin-finish; very easy to apply. They feel really comfortable on the lips - like a lipstick but with better longevity. It includes a built-in sharpener - so helpful.
Food
Angus took me to dinner at an excellent pizza bar, Pizza Oltra located under Central Station in Sydney. Angus is celiac and finding good gluten free pizza can be a mission but he raves about Oltra. They make classic round pizzas as well as chunky square pizza pies. I opted for the latter, it was truly delicious (and huge)! The crust was cheesy and crispy and amazing. My leftovers lasted for two days. I can’t wait to try more!
At my local wholefoods store I bought some sauerkraut on a whim from the brand Gagas and added it to most meals I made over the span of 2 weeks. I got the chimichurri power kraut - it was delicious and such an easy way to add some gut loving food into my diet. The Gaga team kindly sent over some more of their favourites to try!
Another yummy supermarket find is the Harris Farm Gaucamole Picante dip. I normally make my own gauc from scratch but tried this one at a friend’s place and then bought some of my own last week. A great option if you’re time poor. If you like a little spice, this one is for you.
I also opened a fresh tub of Glow Powder from The Beauty Chef (big discount here). I’ve been using this for over 6 years - I just add a spoonful to a glass of water, but it’s also a nice addition to a smoothie, as it has a subtle, earthy berry flavour. It’s so great for gut health and makes a difference to my skin and digestion whenever I have it.
More Smooth Brain Thoughts soon,
Ali xx
I really enjoyed your post. I love going to estate sales, and am always on auctions online. I found my 14kt gold vintage Omega diamond bezel watch on one, and it’s now my prized possession. Looking forward to more of your vintage jewelry content 💕✨.