Open Tabs, Open Mind

Once again, I complain about the sluggishness of my laptop as I stare at the 64 Google tabs I refuse to close. My four email accounts are, of course, always open, as are my Pinterest and a slowly shrinking To-Do List. The rest of my search history? A mix of curiosities and unfinished thoughts begging for attention. Sure, I could’ve used a private browser… but where’s the fun in that? Let's snoop through my recent thoughts.

Cheap flights

Breaking news: a college student who takes over a dozen flights a year has Expedia pinned as a browser tab. A long weekend here, Thanksgiving break there, it’s always a hunt for round-trip tickets under three hundred dollars (my parents weren’t kidding when they said I was expensive, huh). Sometimes, you just have to accept the aisle seat in Row 29, no room for a carry-on, and a faint aroma of despair.

Dare I say, though, there’s a certain chicness to cheap flights? Like wearing a tight dress or impractical heels, I deeply respect anyone willing to endure discomfort in the name of a slightly bourgeois cause, like taking a trip with friends on the rare weekend when we don’t have homework. Overtly chic women, think the Olsen Twins or even Kate Moss, are never perfect. What matters is how they wear their lifestyle: they disguise inconvenience as elegance and somehow make the ugly parts of life seem aspirational.

Or maybe that’s just me trying to make peace with Row 29. Please, allow me my delusion.

The Real Real: Vintage Leather Jackets

Okay, I do own a leather jacket. But I kinda, sorta, maybe want another one. Here’s the thing: leather jackets have personality. Mine is a classic motorcycle style, think early 2010s Tumblr, off-duty model vibes. Or, if you want to ruin my day, something a Disney Channel Original Movie villain would wear. I’m currently on the hunt for something with simpler, cleaner lines, and a looser frame. A more mature one, if you will.

I’ve taken this mission to The RealReal, which, if you’re unfamiliar, is a luxury resale site. I’m browsing there for a few reasons. First, it offers vintage and unique pieces that you simply can’t find in today’s retail market. Second, it lets me shop for real leather more sustainably, without feeding the fast fashion cycle (more than I already do). And finally, it's cheaper. Not cheap, but considering that a real leather jacket today can easily run over a thousand dollars, I’d rather not spend that much on something that might meet its end in the murky depths of a Boston coat check.

I haven't found the one yet, but I haven’t lost hope either.

Recent Art Trade News

Near my freshman-year campus, there was an office for Sotheby’s, one of the world’s most prestigious auction houses. Every time I walked or drove past it, I couldn’t help but wonder: What would it be like to work in a world like that? Whether in real estate, jewelry, or fine art, I’ve started to consider what a career in trade might look like. Lately, I’ve even toyed with the idea of picking up a minor in Art History, just in case it helps win over future employers.

That said, a friend in the industry recently let me in on a not-so-glamorous update: Sotheby’s, the seemingly untouchable giant, is currently facing its fair share of issues, from declining sales to a pretty hefty pile of debt. The broader art market isn’t doing much better, with global sales slowing down and high-end auctions falling short. So, for now, I’m keeping a close eye on the industry before I commit twenty college credits to a plan that might be less timeless than it seems.

Wartime Attire

Like many of Donald Trump’s aides during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a couple of months ago, I too am focused on the Eastern European’s outfit. While they mocked the president for not wearing a suit, I became genuinely curious about the quality of his matching ensemble. After some further research, I found out President Zelenskyy's wartime wardrobe is mostly supplied by Ukrainian designer Ehtiram Damirli, a contemporary Ukrainian men’s fashion brand based in Kyiv.

Damirli garments often feature national symbols like the Tryzub (trident) and subtle embroidery motifs tied to Ukrainian heritage. It's their implementation of peaceful resistance during a time in which their culture is being existentially threatened. It's a stark, yet beautiful reminder that art is always political. I've always believed fashion is one of the most effortless and powerful ways to make a statement, a theory that extends past borders and even into the Oval Office. So much so, that even in a meeting defined by shouting matches, it was Zelenskyy’s unyielding resolve and Damirli's fabrics that spoke the loudest.

New School Tote

Across high school, in and out of Kipling backpacks, I dreamed of the day all I would take to school would fit in a purse. At last, that day arrived first day of Freshman Year. Did I have to carry my books by hand since they didn’t fit in my tote? Perchance. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

This school year, my Isabel Marant black canvas tote became a true friend. Through long days and early mornings, biting wind and crowded bus rides, she never once complained.

Still, this year it might be time to give her a rest. I’ve been looking around leather and canvas tote bags alike for some weeks now, and I find the selection at & Other Stories particularly speaks to me. I’m honestly living for their Suede Tote Bag and Leather-Detailed Straw Tote Bag, and while it’s far too tiny for class, their Small Fringed Suede Bag is also to die for! Plus, they're made with 100% leather.

Everyday Arabic Phrases

I love to travel, and I’m yet to meet anyone who opposes this passion. But while I’ll never turn down a weekend in New York—shopping, eating, and shopping some more—that’s not quite what I mean when I say I love to travel. What I adore about traveling isn’t always comfortable, comforting, or cautious. It’s total immersion in another culture. Food, currency, traffic, tradition, and landscape.

In January, my family and I visited Marrakesh, and while it's hardly the furthest corner in the world, it was a stark contrast to the cities we usually frequent. So I came prepared: I brushed up on common phrases in Arabic and French, two of Morocco’s most spoken languages, alongside Moroccan Berber. I was far from fluent, of course, but I made an effort to engage.

It wasn't our typical vacation of leisure and tried-and-tested dishes. It was dusty streets and dizzying bazaars. It was the fear of our camels running away from the camelier and the sweet taste of honey on m'smen. The awe of looking up at the Atlas Mountains, unable to tell where the peaks ended and the sky began. That's the richness that made it one of my favorite trips yet.

I think writing this all has given me the necessary closure to close some of these tabs. They deserve the rest. Here’s to making space for new curiosities (and maybe a faster laptop).

Love,

A very curious girl