A New Kind of ’60s Throwback, a Neutral-Chic Baby Brand Collab, and 4 More Finds We’re Loving

Our days are punctuated by scouting new talent, attending market appointments, and scrolling Instagram in an effort to unearth the products, people, and news you actually need to know. Here’s what we Slacked one another about this week.

Sweet Escape

For me, this past year has been list focused. Lists of things to do, things to cook, things to watch, things to make, things to spice up a mundane Monday, and, of course, things to do once I could get back out into the world again. High on that list was a trip to the Madcap Motel. I had seen glimpses of the immersive theatrical experience on my friend Thomas Rodehuth-Harrison’s Instagram feed (he designed the costumes for the characters who lead you through Elsewhere, California), and a trip to its site only drew me in more. Did I want to escape reality? Why, yes. Especially if it involves strolling through 18 rooms of this weirdly wonderful world straight out of art director Paige Solomon’s brain, which ships you back to the year 1966. The initial event soft-opened March 15, 2020, only to be closed the very next day. Fast-forward to now: The creative crew behind the Madcap had the past year to perfect all the details, and that they did. From the color palettes alone, you get the sense of being in another time: the beige, army green, and terracotta of the ’50s meets the free love movement’s pops of pink and chartreuse with hints of the acid-trip extravaganza to come in the late-’60s. Come for the color inspiration, stay for the dance party in the entirely mirrored room full of neon lamps. —Meghan McNeer, contributing editor 

Sheer Bliss

My summertime makeup routine is insanely simple: tinted SPF moisturizer, mascara, and this holy grail product from makeup maven Bobbi Brown’s newish line: Jones Road Miracle Balm in bronze, which I dab on my cheekbones, eyelids, and across my nose for a subtle glow. Some highlighters can be a little too disco, but this one makes it look as if I spent a weekend in the Rockaways surf, even if I’ve just been reading on my stoop. —Julie Vadnal, deputy editor

City Snoozer

I’ve been living in my pajamas a lot the past year, and I’m not going to lie, I’ve stopped worrying about it and actually started embracing it by integrating them into my daily looks. I wake up and do emails from bed, then head out in my pj’s to garden as soon as the sun rises. I love my mix of pajama outfits, and wearing this new collab between Sleepy Jones and The New Yorker to the grocery store or to run morning errands is kind of fun and irreverent—and it’s a limited edition. As a New Yorker, what’s more New York than that? Also I’m for sure getting a set for my husband for Father’s Day. —Kate Berry, chief creative officer

Buckle Up

Researching baby gear can feel like a part-time gig for parents. I thought I was getting out of that phase when my son graduated to toddlerdom—until he needed a bigger car seat, and back down the product-review rabbit hole I went. My main criteria was that it needed to be flame retardant–free, which actually narrowed the list considerably. Nuna is a leader in that category, so seeing the company’s new collection with Pottery Barn Kids (think: free-form, dot-style patterns and soft neutrals across its line of design-minded strollers, baby loungers, and play yards) checks all the stylish and safe boxes. —Alex Redgrave, executive editor

In Partnership with Nuna

Wall Flowers

Dreamy floral and botanical photographs have always been my jam. I find myself drawn to depictions of flora and fauna in all forms—it’s a graphic way to bring the outside in, no matter the season. This collaboration between photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank and her 7-year-old son, Hunter, made during the past year’s lockdown, is a sweet and poignant series. The images capture botanicals plucked from Frank’s garden last spring and have the somewhat wild vibe of meadow blooms blowing in the wind, set off by her signature soft light. Her iconic portraits of mothers with their children have an emotional and powerful connection to family, and with this new series, Frank brings that energy to flowers. —Jessica Romm Perez, editor at large

Table Turner

I’ve been pulling out all the stops while dining outdoors at home these days, which means layering the table with everything from patterned tablecloths to vintage salt dishes to patinated earthenware. So I couldn’t be more thrilled to learn that Pomelo Casa is debuting a capsule collection through Moda Operandi that features bird and pomegranate motifs in a brand-new Celeste blue, which goes perfectly with just about everything and especially pops against my more traditional darker blue and white dinner plates. The new blue also happens to coordinate nicely with my other blue and mustard Domino x Pomelo pieces, so you should feel free to mix with abandon. I can’t wait to fill these dishes with freshly picked herbs and grilled vegetables from our new garden for casual summer nights with friends and family. Every piece is made by hand in Spain, and they’re available now for preorder. —Benjamin Reynaert, style director