four-course meal | #07

Why, hello there! Long time no write, dear readers. After about a month of suffering from what my friends and I have so lovingly referred to as the plague, I am both back in action and on my bullshit.

Over the past few weeks, in between throwing back shots of Nyquil PM and a steady stream of soups, I went to Scotland for a wedding, booked our own wedding venue (!!!), went to Savannah to see Grace, danced my way through Charleston for Amanda’s bachelorette, AND started a whole ass business. So, if you’ve missed the near-constant Ally Q content on Substack, be sure to follow Ally Quirk Studio on the gram. But more on all that another day, because today… we feast.

Let’s get into our SEVENTH (!!!) installment of four-course meal1, shall we?

Hors D’oeuvre

I consider myself the MVP when it comes to protecting my face from the sun. Whether that’s in the name of health and good skin or simply to enable a rigorous level of hat-buying, the outcome is all the same.

Declaring this my accessory of the summer, I bought this STAUD hat (scored for 50% off ) when I was in Charleston, and I’m addicted to it. I know, I know — it’s not for everyone. But it’s for me.

I saw this beauty in the back of a Charleston boutique staffed with quite literally the bitchiest divas I’ve ever met (power to them). It was my moral obligation to rescue this hat and release it from their reign. Not to mention all of the fun adventures my hat and I have had since it’s been placed in my tender loving care — a boat day, rooftop bars, hungover air travel, walks in the Arboretum with Nel. Oh, the places we’ll go together.

Appetizer

Speaking of headwear, ever since I got my bob, if there’s an opportunity to put a bandana in my hair, I’m taking it. I’ve seen this trend all over social media, but I may be an early adopter to take it to the mean streets of Boston, more specifically, Fenway Pahk. What I love most about bandanas is that they’re super cheap. The best ones are at vintage/thrift stores because they’re beautifully worn in. The closer it is to falling apart, the better. The color choices are endless, and you can also wear them in a ton of different ways.

some inspo for safekeeping:

Main Course

Two words: Canadian. Tuxedo. One can not even attempt to get on my level when I’m wearing denim on denim — that’s how cool it makes me feel. Historically, I have been at odds with the jean jackets in my wardrobe, and for good reason. The first one was a gift from my mom from the Free People in Rockefeller Center, circa 2015. I only know that because it was the same day I started my high school finsta (remember when those were all the rage?), @allyenz — like aliens but with my name, which I still think is super iconic. This jean jacket is now 11 years old, which is also iconic. However, as you can imagine, it’s just no longer the vibe.

The second one was purchased from Savers around the same time, with metallic stars and my initials painted on the back by me. Despite all odds, this piece has somehow stuck around in my wardrobe.

It’s funny because it seems like every article of clothing I write about on here, Bonnie was with me for its purchase (hello, Bonnie, if you’re reading this). Before I left my apartment that day, I tried on a Canadian tuxedo with my Free People jacket and whined to Jack about how I finally (seriously this time) needed a new denim jacket to complete the Canadian tuxedo of my dreams. Just a few hours later, I picked up this little beauty at the We Thieves closing sale, and since then, it has only come off my body to sleep.

My tip for you is that the washes don’t need to match. Don’t overthink it. There’s always a time and place for a matching set, but I also love the casualness of the mismatched look. As you may have noticed, I’m a baggy-on-baggy kind of girl, but I can see the case for an oversized jacket and straight/slim pants.

The next piece of the puzzle for me? To hunt down a buttery soft chambray shirt that I can tuck into anything and everything.

Dessert

Again, something that may not be for everyone, but certainly is for me, I intend to take statement sunglasses to a whole new level this summer. Clearly inspired by frames from the 60s and 70s, luxury brands across the board have been PUMPING out these oversized, bug-eyed sunnies. My issue with that? We’re talking prices upward of — pause for dramatic effect — FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

I’m not an oil tycoon or an idiot, so I don’t intend on spending quite that much for a little bit of plastic. This trend is also baffling because it is so clearly just that, a trend. They come and go, people!

If I had the pocket depth and face card of Elsa Hosk, obviously, I would have bought all of them by now. I’m talking Celine, Tom Ford, Phoebe Philo, Gucci… but alas.

My goal is to find a pair or two secondhand that are, you know, actually from the 60s or 70s. In my preliminary research on The Real Real, I have already found three pairs I like for under $50.

Go snap them up before I do:

Diane von Furstenberg ($44)

Tory Burch ($48)

Marc by Marc Jacobs ($44)

It is always a pleasure dining with you. Until next time!

- Ally x