Five Fine Things, No. 13

Great things worth sharing this week!

I can’t believe it’s May, that we are still not ready to pack away our coats in the city, and that I’ve been so preoccupied with work that I have barely been shopping, getting my own Mother’s Day gifts in order, or making headway on my home projects... essentially all the things I love sharing here!

I did pull together an email with my team on Fewer Finer’s brand newsletter (where “Five Fine Things” originally started) full of things I’m loving that could also make great Mother’s Day gifts. I talked about my single favorite skincare product, the boots I am obsessed with every detail of, a really nice lotion, our zodiac and birth month flower charms, the almond butter I love so much I have it on subscription, and my new favorite desk accessory. If you want to subscribe to that newsletter, in addition to this, you can do so here. We share some fun emails like our recent guide to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, home of The Fewer Finer Townhouse, some deep dives into our custom work, and of course new product drops and sale alerts. Usually it’s one email a week!

This past week I did discover my dream watch, a vintage Cartier style (introduced to me through Yolanda Edwards) that I had never seen before, so I’m adding that to my wishlist… maybe for a 5th year wedding anniversary which gives my husband about a year and a half to track one down - they seem to be hard to come by! I finally made it to the tailor and, in addition to getting some of my own things done, I hemmed a handful of Richie’s shorts to a mere 1 in inseam. Call me crazy, but honestly short shorts on kids are just to much cuter! I wear-tested a new chain for our collection. I found the most incredible vintage light you’ve ever seen on Etsy and it arrived even better than I could have imagined - no where to put it yet but it was too good to pass up! I got tacos and did a matcha latte class with my team. I planted lavender in big pots in our backyard. I photographed a recently completed signet ring. And I got some film back from the developer!

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And here are Five Fine Things I wanted to share:

1. New Front Door Mat

   

   I realized the other day that I hated the mat we had ben using all winter at our front door. It was cheap and looked it, and something we got out of need rather than intention which is a practice I like to avoid as much as possible for anything home-wear related. I did some research on what to replace it with and came across this company: Wicked Good Doormats. They are really passionate about the mats they make. They’re made out of lobster rope, hand-made in Maine, and all weather/mold resistant. On the site I linked, where I bought mine, they sell them at a discount for a set of two, which I should have bought because you usually need more than one and I just placed an order for two more (and for this great salad bowl as a Mother’s Day gift to myself)! They work for indoor and outdoor which I really like. I got the all black, but some of the simpler striped ones are nice too. Recently, a friend asked me for a good housewarming gift idea and I shared these because everyone needs a mat somewhere and it’s often not something you first buy yourself. Rolled up and wrapped with a beautiful big bow, this would make such a nice gift!

2. Persay Gifts

   

   Speaking of gifts, I discovered Persay because it’s a brand owned by one of my clients, Abby Crowley (honestly this is how I have gotten to know so many great people, brands, and things)! It’s an independent gift store with lots of thoughtful things to choose from. I like placing a larger order with things I can gift if I’m going over to someones’s house or need a last minute little birthday something. Nearly every single thing in their collection is something I would be happy to receive myself! Some favorites: Beautiful Watering Can, Blue and White Bud Vase, Tartan Cocktail Napkins, and Fun Matchbooks.

3. The Perfect Little Black Summer Dress

   

   I discovered this brand through Abby Arad who has great style and lives in the same kind of clothes I mostly do too - albiet that she’s in Southern California so our seasonal crossover is limited to the warmer months! I loved the look of this dress but really fell for it once it arrived. It’s the perfect lightweight material that makes it feel easy and effortless to throw on, but the cut and embroidery on it feels luxe. I haven’t been able to wear it yet, but I know it’s the dress I will live in on the wicked hot days of summer. I exchanged my Size Small for an XS, which I usually don’t wear, so I would say size down!

4. Luna Slipper

   

   I now own two pairs of this style of shoe from Le Monde Beryl. One in maroon leather and another in taupe suede. To me they are the perfect flat: instantly comfortable and ones I could walk forever in, unique in their cut so they look good with a wider pant and just about anything else, and easy/fuss free design and fit. There are some other brands kind of mimicking the LMB shape and style, but once you own a pair of these, they’ll be all you want! I find they run small and that I need to size up a full size.

5. Color Analysis

   

   I’m a “true summer,” and this is my color palate to reference ;)

   I mentioned in my last letter that I had a color analysis done about a year ago, and I still think about it all the time. Knowing which colors truly work for me and which don’t has been surprisingly useful. This week, I was talking to the girls on my team about it, and we used AI to try analyzing a few people’s coloring. It was fun, but honestly, nothing compares to doing it in person.

   I’ll admit, the experience can feel a little silly at first. I definitely felt a bit funny going alone—if I could do it again, I’d make it a whole thing and go with a friend (or my mom and sister). That said, it ended up being really helpful. The idea is to understand your natural coloring - based on your skin, eyes, hair, and undertones - and then dress and wear makeup in shades that complement those features. When your colors are in sync with your natural tones, everything just looks more balanced and harmonious. Many of the recommendations aligned with what I already instinctively gravitated toward (or avoided), but I also learned a few unexpected things. For example, I love a bright poppy red—but it turns out it’s not ideal for me; the orange undertones clash with my peachy complexion. What’s interesting is that everyone can wear every color, but it’s the shade of that color that changes. For instance, the reds that work on me are more maroon or burgundy or soft raspberry. All that to say—I’d recommend trying it. It’s fun, genuinely useful, and something I still reference more often than I expected. I keep my color guide saved in my notes on my phone and the physical one in my closet. I went to Karen at Key Color Analysis in Long Island City. You can see her do her thing on Instagram here.

Talk soon,

Madison