David Moses was one of the first interns at Eckhaus Latta. We never hired him, he just showed up one day. He was 17 years old, weighed less than 90 lbs and would sit on my lap and brush my hair while I haphazardly tried to write emails and most things felt like a crisis. We were subletting a studio from Maryam Nassir Zadeh and many nights would bleed into day in that space. David and I both love to seek things out. Although he remains one of my favorite Eckhaus Latta models, he also has his own completely insane picking business and the treasures he curates deserve a world of their own. Winning and Losing (which he now has tattooed on his face) is one of my favorite places to shop.
David has gifted us this week with an edit of early photographic works, CAPES!, Disintegrating Objects and a tight edit of Tee’s from Mothfood.
Finally, I have provided you all with the KNIFE SHOPPE which I have curated with a little help from some culinary friends.
Zoe asked me to guest edit this issue of ROTV and I feel severely under qualified because I’ve been IRL shopping more than URL shopping recently but I’m excited and honored to contribute.
Last month I spent a week at (one of the) largest antique shows in the country Brimfield (IYKYK) so I feel depleted and psychotic and like I need to buy 9000000 more things for my shoppe because I sold so much (yay). So maybe I need to get into online shopping now more than ever?
Antique and vintage photography has been a HUGE thing for me the past couple of years but I have this fucked up practice of buying photos and throwing them in a drawer never to be seen ever again. I haven’t opened the drawer in months and I keep buying.
Carnival Caricature Man Riding Racing Donkey (I actually just sold a similar one of these tintypes to my friend and I kinda regret it already…)
Bob Mizer Handsome Man Physique Posing Butt
Five Men Covering Their Privates
Young Men Sleeping Being Tickled
NOW DONT CUT OFF YOUR ARM (This one is from my friend Connor he’s got a shoppe in Denver if you’re ever there say hi to him his IG is @wishwithme)
LOVE a photo booth photo I have probably 10000000 of them in a bowl in my room.
If you want something REALLY special please visit my friend Casey’s site he’s got the best dags ever (with cheeky titles and descriptions) - his dad was like the biggest dag dealer in the country and his sister Erin also sells amazing photos I always buy from them at Brimfield. IG’s are @dagmakin & @deadmeniminlovewith.
I feel like people aren’t talking about or wearing capes as much as they should be. Cuz historically they’re like really iconic and fun so here’s some capes I like —
1920s Maroon Velvet Cocoon Gatsby Flapper Cloak Coat Open Front Cape Sorry had to plug myself!
Antique 1920s Completely Beaded & Sequined Dress Cape I want this so bad from my best friend Molli it weighs a TON only an ICON could wear this
1930’S BLOOD RED SILK VELVET CAPE W CHINCHILLA FUR TRIMS- Jamie and Sandi are LEGENDS and someone needs this so bad
OTTOMAN CAPE W RICH METALLIC GOLD DETAILING & TURQUOISE BEADING Another one from them this is psychotic I want to put it on my body
Antique Penguin Cape 1860's The listing title (although I’m not sure it’s accurate? Correct me?) caught my eye
RARE ANTIQUE VICTORIAN CHANTILLY LACE CAPE SHAWL MUSEUM PIECE This with nothing under it
Splendid Antique Dress Cape Victorian 1860's Brown Silk Moire Another one of my fav ebay sellers (& my fav color)
1950's One Size Ostrich Feather Cape I think everyone should have at least one feather cape in their closet that’s all
Zoe and I have talked at length about the Magnolia Pearl / brocante aesthetic of like rotting disintegrating clothing and I definitely vibe with it heavily so here’s a list of time worn things that I think are important:
ANTIQUE FRENCH CORSET MANNEQUIN
VINTAGE ANTIQUE SHABBY LEATHER STUFFED FRENCH DOLL BODY TOY BROCANTE NORDIC PRIMITIVE AS-IS
ANTIQUE SHABBY SILK WEDDING SHOES 1850 1830 1840 1850S 1830S 1840S CREAM
HANES THRASHED HAND DRAWN “HELP PROTECT STREET RACING” WHITE COTTON JERSEY SHIRT
2000S THRASHED OVERSIZED CARHARTT HOODIE
HTTPS://EBAY.US/M/Q3NTNZ
1920S WRECKED GERMAN KNITTED CARDIGAN
Five tees from Tommy (@MOTHFOOD) I would buy. No further comments
70S TRIANGLE GAY BAR DENVER TEE
60S DIRTY OLD JOCKEY TEE
40S BIG M SHOE REPAIR ATHLETIC TANK
COTTON TEE
70S NO CLAMS TEE
I hope any of these make sense and that you buy a cape and a rotting piece of clothing and wear it until it disintegrates off your body.
I’m not a connoisseur of knives, but I do love them. I love how they’re renewable, they make the best gifts and I love how they yield power. Mike and I sent a beautiful walnut knife from La Tresorerie to Cathy Horyn’s hotel room in Paris after her first review. The next season we ran into her in Tresorerie as she had kept the card we had sent her! Always give a coin with a knife, or give a coin to the person who gives you the knife- oddly it goes both ways- this allows the gift to be transactional and not “sever the ties of friendship.”
In addition to my own gorgeous and probably dull as hell bullshit, I’ve asked some trusted professionals to give me their two cents on the topic. The prompt was: you’ve lost it all and now you have to go and buy one knife, what would you get?
I heard a fun fact that Junya Yamasaki (of Yess Restaurant) makes his own whetstones and now I’m spending my maternity leave watching videos like this. And because I’m home bound and don't get to go to Maine this year, someone else please go visit the best knife store in America STRATA…. (BERNAL CUTLERY IS ALSO A GREAT STORE, look at their vintage section!)
SERATED OLIVE 6” SHORTY for a small loaf or large tomato
BABY’S FIRST KNIFE my kid loves his and still has 10 fingers and 10 toes
Riley (who doesn't eat steak) has observed that all the good restaurants in Paris and a few of the decent ones in America supply a Perceval 9.47 when serving steak. Perhaps I’ll get him these as a belated Father’s Day gift.
UNUSUAL PELLET POCKET KNIFE
Arley was clear: he would go straight to the store and get himself a Misono UX10 Gyuto.
CUTCO SHEARS I was just given these as a baby present (excellent gift!) These are a little spooky and powerful, made to cut through (chicken) spines etc.
HANDMADE SOVIET PRISON ART AXE AND MEAT PULVERIZER I need to know more about this craft tradition, many more examples of it in the shop here here and here.
LITTLE CAR POCKET KNIFE
Zach would get a Nakiri knife, a “homecook vegetable knife with a square shape. Preferably of some type of stainless clad carbon steel so Sara could abuse it without triggering my restaurant curse. And a handle that was pretty but I wouldn’t waste the money on some gorgeous wood to make dinner for my family and friends. And to that I like a paring knife. Like a misono or sabatier, for finer work like hulling berries and also to open packages”(Zach also noted he would need stones and a honing rod)
MOW LAWNS QUIETLY SCYTHE
PJ notes: “I am not a big knife guy. I like stainless steel because carbon steel is a pain in the ass to work with and can make your food turn ugly colors if you aren’t diligent in the kitchen. This German Santoku knife is a great length for getting through most prep work with ease and is easy to keep sharp.” PJ then adds “My REAL answer is to get this 6 pack of cheap Italian knives with plastic handles. I usually pick them up from the ‘ferramenta’ (Italian hardware store) when I’m visiting Italy but here’s some from amazon (or “Cooking with Nonna”). My favorite brand is MAROB which I’ve only been able to find in Italy, this is nearly the same thing. They are surprisingly sharp and are great for things like slicing tomatoes, making pasta shapes like orecchiette, cutting up fruit, and work great as steak knives at the table. A real work-horse here.”
TWO TONE BARRACUDA SNIPS
There will always be enough and then there will be more
(in 2012 I wrote the above salutation in a letter to (my intern) David. He then got it tattooed in my handwriting on his chest w/o telling me)
PSA: The ROTV MALL IS A WORK IN PROGRESS BUT OPEN 24/7 FOR ALL OF YOUR UNECCESARY NEEDS. THE FOLLOWING STORES ARE OPEN FOR YOU TO LOOT, and being updated throughout the week:
WINDOWS //// BLANKETS AND THROWS //// KID //// BABY //// MATRESENCE //// LIGHTS //// RUGS //// CLEANING //// SWIM //// BEACH GEAR //// BASKETS //// WELLNESS //// TABLECLOTHS, NAPKINS, PLACEMATS //// INTIMATES //// ART
The title of this letter was derived from Ariana Reines 2008 poem SUN SCREEN.
