Retail therapy is the best medicine 💊
And antibiotics and pain meds (allow me to explain)
Hello shoppers!
Some of you might be wondering where my second September newsletter was, and as those of you close to me know, I landed back in the hospital for a week at the end of the month with a deadly bacterial infection that I contracted during surgery, (pro-tip, don’t ever take the antibiotic clindamycin.) I’m just starting to come back online very slowly now, and as always am grateful for you patience and continued support for my little shopping newsletter (and will be making it up and then some with extra long shopping lists and an extra newsletter if I can swing it.)
Today’s theme is no theme — recovering from major surgery and then recovering from an infection that could have literally killed you right after has made me feel the most unhinged and out of control in my life, and my purchases over the last month or so reflect that. Some are super practical; things I wear everyday to help with the pain I’m experiencing, and some are literally batshit things that I will be paying off for months. But as always, here at Material Girl you can trust me to deliver shopping finds for every mood so whether you’re looking to spend $20 on a cozy fall lip gloss or $3k on a bracelet to make you forget about your severe medical trauma, keep scrolling.
American Eagle Patchwork Cardigan: I live in long cozy cardigans in the winter and I absolutely love this one. It’s super oversized so feel free to size down once or twice. The patchwork design makes it look more expensive than it is, and it’s a cotton blend so it’s not scratchy or itchy. I’ve already thrown mine in the wash too, and it came out good as new. I like to pair mine with this little Aerie Ribbed Bra top that is as soft as it is supportive, and a great price. I’m wearing both below!
Abercrombie Sweater: Speaking of super comfy things, this sweater is one of the softest things I own. I love Abercrombie knits and this is no exception. The cut is super flattering, and it feels almost like velvet. Again, this one has no wool in it so it’s also not itchy or scratchy.
Summer Fridays Lip Balm: Every cool girl on insta or TikTok seems to be using this and if there’s one thing about me it’s I’m easily influenced and if there’s two things about me it’s that I’m easily influenced AND I love anything vanilla. This smells divine but not overpowering, and it feels like a rich glossy balm on the lips that stays shiny for hours after applying.
Baia Di Angeli Sandals: I got these gifted to me (because I’m a person who gets gifts from brands now??) and they are so simple and high quality. I’ve seen approximately six million TikToks about the handmade leather sandals that people pick up on their trips to Capri, and while I will make it there one day, these transport me in the meantime. With the weather cooling I wear them around the house with a pair of loose cotton trousers and a simple tee shirt and I feel like something straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie. I have the Procida style and I’ll be grabbing some other styles for next summer when the time comes.
Mustard Made cabinets: Moving on to a slightly more expensive purchase; since getting home from the hospital — I mean, the spa — I’ve been turning our spare bedroom into a little dressing room slash office for myself. My sister was the first person to bring these uber cute locker style cabinets into the house and now I have three for my new space. They’re easy to put together, sturdy, and they fit so much.
Negative Underwear Cami set: I am a Negative Underwear stan and their whipped line is one of the softest things on earth; during a recent sale I splurged on their cami set and I have zero regrets. They are the perfect layering piece, or a sexy and partially sheer lounge top if that’s something you need in your closet!
Ciao Lucia Dress: I’ve talked about Ciao Lucia a few times on here and this tiered dress is part of their sale section right now and when I tell you it is the perfect late summer/early fall dress to pair with a sneaker, boots, or even a sandal on warmer days.
Hermes Nail Polish: If you’ve been reading Material Girl for a while you’ll know that I’m a DIY manicure gal; nothing against people who make nail appointments at the salon, I just really like the control of doing my own nails and I’m also too impatient to keep one design for more than a week or so. Still I long for that fresh gel look that my friends get from their manicurists. Well, I found it. And I know this nail polish is outrageously priced, but two coats and one coat of the top coat will last you longer than any nail polish you’ve ever tried in your life, I’m not joking. It looks glossy and opaque without feeling heavy or sticky and the selection of colors is beautiful, as is the packaging — definitely worthy of leaving out on your dresser.
Catbird Hoops: Another find from my sister, I’ve wanted these for months and finally took the plunge about a week ago. If you’re someone who likes to sleep in your jewelry or have an everyday statement hoop, these are both super comfortable and the perfect size and weight; they’re not too small, not too big, not too thick, not too thin, and you barely feel them on.
Tiffany Hardware Bracelet: Perhaps my most unhinged but also my most prized purchase was this Tiffany bracelet — I used some birthday money to buy it and I literally have not taken it off since the day it arrived. I’m a firm believer in investing in a few forever jewelry pieces and as traditional as it might be, I almost always go straight to Tiffany’s when I’m looking for something I know I’ll wear forever. What I love about this piece is the hardware link is just slightly edgy without being trendy and it pairs beautifully with other jewelry or as a standalone bracelet.
