If This Were Our First Date...
Calm down. I’m a happily married woman! However, since this is my entry in to the Substack world and this is your entry in to Low Key High Maintenance, I figured we should probably get to know each other. In all seriousness my last first date was over eight years ago, but that’s neither here nor there. Don’t do the math on my age.
If this were our first date…
Without a doubt I would smell good and I encourage you to do the same. Would I tell you exactly what my mystery scent was? Obviously not. I’ll be gatekeeping that for life. However, I may give you a little hint if the need for a gift was ever to arise.
If you must know a scent that I’m obsessed with it’s Guerlain’s Vanille Planifolia Extract 21. I know scents are very personal, but even if you’re not a vanilla guy/girl, this one is the holy grail. My husband is partial to vanilla, and I’ve tried every vanilla scent in existence. Vanille Planifolia isn’t sickly sweet or synthetic. It’s a delicate balance of vanilla and amber and has a slight woody dry down that lasts beautifully on the skin because of the extract formulation. It doesn’t overpower, so the only person that can smell it is the one you want close to you. Please just don’t bother with any of their other fragrances unless they’re a part of the L’Art & La Matière collection. As a bonus, you can customize the bottle so you’re also getting jewelry for your bathroom. I love a win, win.
If you must know, I’m a bath person.
Hopefully you’ve made it through my essay of an intro email or my about page and learned that I grew up in London where baths are common. I know the Americans reading this are disgusted by the idea of soaking in ‘dirty’ water but before you stop reading let me entice you.
I’d also like to note that at some point in 2012 Tom Ford claimed to take four baths a day. Now he is allegedly down to just one. What I’m trying to say is I’m in good company. Further proof you can look hot, while you rot.
If you’re not taking a bubble bath in full glam and diamonds a la Christy (above), what are you really doing in life? I know the Americans like to be cozy so at least be chic in a monogrammed Aman robe. Okay, back to smelling good. Perfume the atmosphere with Officine Universelle Buly’s Alexandrie Candle that looks elegant in a personalized marble holder. They also make an amazing comb like this fun colorful one. To be honest, I love all their products so please keep this between us. Regarding skin, I’ve recently gone through a whole tube of Adipeau’s Active Face Cream. Don’t be startled by the word active. I use it as an overnight moisture mask on my extremely sensitive skin and wake up my real age - twenty-seven. Just do me a favor. If you buy it please make sure you pat it on to your skin like kids finger painting instead of rubbing it in. If you do choose the rubbing method just don’t tell me! To top it off, soak in 1000 Tuscan flowers in the form of a lush bath oil made by the estate where I happened to get married. You could also go there for the full experience if your heart desires. Again, a win, win.
Okay, I know it’s just the first date…
But we’ve got to set the tone with good bed karma. For the future of course. We’re ladies after all. The most elegant woman I know also owns the chicest luxury linen company in the world, D. Porthault Paris. I may be biased, but once my husband slept in these sheets he could never return to normalcy. A common theme when married to me. Yes, the sheets are an investment, but we spend a lot of time in bed so why not look elegant while dozing off. Even the Queen of all things bed related, Samantha Jones, rolled around with Smith in the first Sex And The City Movie in Porthault sheets. Not to rip off Sabrina Carpenter, but that sounds like ‘really good bed chem.’
Now I guess we need to move on to what to wear. It’s the first date after all. Since you’ve made it this far you must have realized I’m far from chill when it comes to anything in life. I mean, this newsletter is called Low Key High Maintenance for God’s sake!
So, a first date means it’s time to pull out a corset.
I wore a corset when I met my husband and wore at least three when I married him so I feel like it’s tradition at this point. I’ll eventually do a whole newsletter on corsets but for now I’ll just tell you my favorites are from Wiederhoeft, Vivienne Westwood (duh) and Schiaparelli. Sadly, I would need to donate an organ to buy these brands. Luckily, I’m willing to give one up in order to suck it in so I have no waist. A win, win? I’d say so.
This would be the part of the date where you ask if I want to have another drink.
The answer is yes, and champagne (not prosecco) please. Given it’s the first date with no proposal in sight we can settle for some gold and diamonds but I’ve got my eye on the prize here. Or, you could just upgrade to a paid subscription. If you haven’t subscribed what are you waiting for?
My grandmother once told me, it’s good luck to mix metals like silver, white gold and yellow gold. I’d like to think she was on to something and I feel lucky when I’m wearing Rainbow K’s Nano Gold Ball Huggies. So really, lucky you. The French brand makes jewelry with a little redefined twist, like the ring I’ve been lusting over for three years and counting. Hint hint.
Remind me to send this to my husband.
Speaking of, he proposed with a marquise diamond so if you’re in the mood for my favorite shaped stone you can be like Carrie and wear this Kat Kim version around your neck. Between us I’m usually five minutes late, but I would be early if I had the new Reflection De Cartier watch. Finally, why not try my former boss’s new design for Louis Vuitton? The Damier collection showcases the House’s motif in an extremely wearable way without being too in your face. I’m going to hold your hand when I say this, but we aren’t buying Cartier Love bracelets in 2025. I never have, but I know at least three of you are currently staring at yours locked on your wrist. No judgement, but we can do better and luckily I’ll guide you.
Well, well, well…
We’ve finally made it to the end of the evening. I guess it’s up to you to decide if you want to meet again. Just know, I’ll be back on Tuesday with a jewelry focused newsletter, so strap in!
XO XO
Grace
Such a good blog. Love love love!
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