Issue Twenty Three

KEY CHAINS, SANDALS, SHORT STORIES

I was going to make you all a sandal edit but don’t think you deserve it yet. Instead you’re getting BAUBLES and BOOKS.

I’m slowly crawling out of my maternity leave and have reason to celebrate this week because THE SNAP, Eckhaus Latta’s first bag that launched and sold out earlier this year, is finally back. This bag came to me in a dream a few years ago, and Mike and I spent a long time making it perfect. It’s made from Italian Lambskin and can hold a computer and a waterbottle, a lego set, a good sized Pomeranian and many other things. We made it in 3 new colors, NAVY, BONE AND FORGET. I want all 3. We also brought back the coveted pukey GREEN and BLACK. If you want one I suggest you get one because they’re moving along, finding their owners rather quickly. Eckhaus Latta is a small business and your patronage is deeply appreciated- plus, you cant get the bag anywhere else.

In honor of the Snap’s return, I bring you KEYCHAINS, BAUBLES, BAG CHARMS. A little shoppe of sweet nothings you could put on your new bag.

Turkmen BELLY DANCING TASSLES red with white beads

sinister ELSA PERETTI 18kt credit card holder

This LUCKY HORSESHOE SCRATCHER reminded me of a story from an old friend who went to rehab when she was a teenager and her roommate was Gene Simmon’s ex wife and she was in there for her addiction to scratchers.

Japanese Silk OBIJIME BELT in various weave structures, imagine this almost touching the ground

Pair of tiny leather BOXING GLOVES. Ships from Napa, 3” tall.

18kt PATEK PHILIPPE key holder

19th Century Zylonite VICTORIAN EQUESTRIAN RING REIN SPREADERS.

Extremely corny BALENCIAGA POTATO CHIP BAG

Perhaps there will be a PIECE OF THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE in every forthcoming ROTV?

Gorgeous GOHAR WORLD PEARL WRISTLET

This HELMUT LANG cowhide sack has been on my eBay watch list for 6 years and every year I go to buy it for Mike for his birthday but can’t get myself to spend $250 on a decrepit piece of skin with a nozzle attached to it?

Kawaii Calico Critters RAINCOAT BABIES keychain

In my search for the key chains, I’ve discovered the wide range of bags available for a normal sized bag to wear. I of course knew these existed, but didn't quite know how extensive the universe's offering was.

WORRY DOLL MINI PURSE

KATE SPADE micro mini dumpling in green bean

LANDS END but should be LLBean boat tote

PACMAN zippered 1980 Duffle bag

TORY BIRCH robinson Mini Tote

Japanese IKEA set of 3 Knoli mini

LOUIS VUITTON in red logo emboss

Taupe DOONEY & BOURKE bucket bag

COACH mini city bag in black

JACQUEMUS mini of mini

HERMES mini Kellys in many colors

Gorgeous blush BALENCIAGA moto bag (Mike has this in a battered white, a gift from the same friend who was Gene Simmon’s scratch off addicted ex-wife in rehab)

Crochet cross body FARMER’S MARKET bag in many colors

CELINE two tone phantom

1:6 scale BAGG bag

CHANEL or rather CLANE classic flip with box and boots!

There are MORE, I could do this all day, will leave you with THIS. you’re welcome.

Thank you to those of you who reached out with recommendations for short stories, or more, tales for people with short attention spans. My Highschool job involved taking out the trash at the local bookstore. I remember telling a crush the Murakami book he was purchasing was “pedestrian but serviceable”…I had never laid eyes on it…. To free that evil little teen within me, I have put here titles that might be perceived as basic that I truthfully have never read but want to.

I have additionally sought advice from some of my more literary friends: Emily Segal, Zoe Dubno, Natasha Stagg, Carly Mensch, Kaitlin Philips, Fiona Duncan, Ottessa Moshfegh, Dena Yago and Jos Demme.

Kaitlin suggests the “super famous” THE VISITING PRIVILEGE by Joy Williams or the “more obscure” BORN LOSERS by Barbara Skelton. My trusted Brother-in-law Jos names DO THE WINDOWS OPEN by Julie Hecht, COLLECTED STORIES of Deborah Eisenberg, CONSIDER THE OYSTER by MK Fisher and ALICE LET’S EAT by Calvin Trillin. Beloved Zoe D. in the midst of launching into literary stardom, provided an extensive list self subtitled “The Neurotic Jewish Canon” also recommending DO THE WINDOWS OPEN by Julie Hecht, GOODBYE COLUMBUS AND OTHER STORIES by Philip Roth, THE NACHMAN STORIES by Leonard Michaels and THE COLLECTED STORIES OF ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER. Natasha responded within seconds: TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CURRENCY by Deborah Eisenberg. Emily thought about it then came back with IT WAS LIKE MY TRYING TO HAVE A TENDER HEARTED NATURE by Diane Williams and ENORMOUS CHANGES AT THE LAST MINUTE by Grace Paley. Carly came in hot with SELF HELP by Lorrie Moore and CITY LIFE by Donald Barthelme, though noted that if it was the GOAT I was after she would say METAMORPHOSIS AND OTHER STORIES by Kafka. Dena was clear, first thought best thought TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA by Richard Brautigan, specifically a haunting description of sex in the story SEA SEA RIDER. Otessa, notes in her stack WILD SWANS BY Alice Munro and WHY I LIVE AT THE PO by Eudora Welty. And finally Fiona’s own collection, EX BEST FRIENDS, is currently sold out but she offers WALKING THROUGH CLEAR WATER IN A POOL PAINTED BLACK by Cookie Mueller and IF YOU’RE A GIRL by Ann Rower, though, “everyone knows these right?” She also recommends NANA MANGA by Ai Yazawa. I’m throwing in EVERYTHING THAT RISES MUST CONVERGE by Flannery O’Conner and when i was a kid, my mother and grandmother would read the O. HENRY PRIZE Winners together annually and I am attempting to do the same with her now.

Here is the beginning of the ROTV BOOKSHOPPE.

PS: The title of this letter was derived from Ariana Reines 2008 poem SUN SCREEN.

PPS: THE MALL OF OUR DREAMS IS ALWAYS OPEN.