Hey, y’all! Addie here, a Fab 13 Memphis girlie with NYC roots who’s been a UK resident since 2017. But most importantly I’ve been calling Mimi a bestie since we realized we were the cool/bad girls in 7th grade orchestra and therefore needed to band together for life. 

From middle school “outfit books” where we would log/style our #lewks (with glossy magazines source material and before hashtags), to slaying it at basketball games, to our inter-and-national escapades, we’ve always shared and explored those things that bring the joy of self expression and cut through the BS. I guess you can say we’ve lived 10s of 10s of 10s for… almost 3 decades!

In that spirit, it’s my hono(u)r to bring you a quick list of my (big and small, cool and silly) current 10’s from my home in Edinburgh, Scotland. For me this is a fun application of how Amelia and I talk every day— so I am keeping this loose to share the small and big things I am currently loving. The quiet theme is the insight I’ve gained from living between my beloved Southern and Scottish cultures, including the ways I’ve maintained indulgence with a budget that went from advertising strategist -> PhD student (oof). It’s been a year of hard work (finishing my doctorate), celebration (getting married + welcoming a nephew), and expansive joy (see #10).

Not claiming anything revolutionary here, but this list is what’s been exciting and satisfying me during this season of life. 

1. Our live, potted christmas tree. Ha! This wee (but growing) guy has brought me joy for the second season in a row now. The idea came from a combo of my plant addiction, my partner’s commitment to sustainability, and our inclination toward easy living in Edinburgh without much Christmas “stuff.” We bought it from our neighborhood florist last year to be our Tree. Come January we de-baubled it, repotted it, and put it outside on our doorstep for the year, where it doubled in size. We just brought it back in for round two. It’s been a lovely “evergreen” addition to our home, inside and out (peep its wedding photo cameos from October). It smells divine and the throughline of tradition, meaning, and growth year over year is not lost on us. We’re gonna keep it going. 

2. Pre-loved fashion. I’ve realized over time that my most loved items are secondhand, so I’m giving big blog real estate to this one. My what’s, why’s, and how’s below:
   1. Sure, it’s a way to make luxury fashion attainable; this year’s purchases on rotation are pictured above: Max Mara plaid blazer and cashmere camel coat, Saint Laurent massive gray wool scarf and killer western denim shirt, Gucci men’s belt and cream blazer, Burberry shearling wool bomber, Chloe fringe boots, Celine vintage satchel… all for pence on the retail pound. Check out this post’s cover photo for some additional pre-loved scores– too many bought and loved to feature, all secondhand, all top notch, all carefully considered, zero regrets. 
   2. But it’s really more than the cost savings for me. The secondhand hunt slows down my shopping and adds a deep intention to my consumption. Shopping this way takes time, and it helps me understand not just what I like but why I like it; what would add real possibilities to my wardrobe? Fabrics are key, the weight, the drape, the actual composition. Sorry— “wool blends” just don’t cut it, and pre-loved knitwear trumps anything new from the “high street.” Basics suddenly become pieces that no one else has, and as my style is quite classic and minimal, that is essential. Buying worn shows you how the item ages before you commit. To me, the hunt is as creative as the buy. 
   3. The key is to indulge in regular, enjoyable browsing. Make accounts and get the apps for Vestiaire Collective (set your country and sizes and let the magic come to you) and The Real Real. Scroll the “new-ins” daily like you would a magazine or your IG feed, hearting items as much for lookbook inspiration as for purchase intention. Great bubble bath activity. See this post’s cover image for a peek at my current Vestiaire faves in-wishlist-situ. Over time, this practice gives me a deep and slow education of fashion across seasons and teaches me what I gravitate toward, developing my inward-out true style outside the sway of this season’s trends.
   4. Shoutout to the preloved indie boutiques that have my heart here, which I swing by weekly. When in Edinburgh, Armstrong’s is an absolute must (Mimi can vouch), along with Those Were The Days— they also have a bridal boutique where I got my 1960 city hall lace mini wedding dress that I topped with a Real Real sourced Gucci blazer (pictured). Sign Of The Times in London, online there’s Retold, The Cirkel, and Reluxe. I could go on but I’ll stop. Email me for more. 

3. Pre-loved home treasures. Same same from the previous point. For aesthetic, quality, sustainability, and creative reasons, I set a goal to furnish our Edinburgh flat entirely secondhand when we moved in together in May 2022 (without shipping anything from our Memphis house). And between charity shops, Vinterior, independent Instagram sellers, and FB marketplace, we did it down to every side table (minus the bed)! British culture has taught me that stewardship over ownership is a lovely mindset to have in the home. As material items in your life are used they acquire tangible love marks and memories that, over time, bring a feel of comfort and unique lived-in-ness that I find very classy-but-unfussy. It’s just vibes. I find myself wondering what past lives our objects had as I use them, and I swear they bring extra soul to our rooms. Local charity shops and thrift stores are obviously where to go IRL, and I love scrolling Chairish (in the US) and Vinterior (in the UK) for online sourcing. In Memphis, Antique Warehouse Mall on Summer is where it’s at, obvi. A few of my fave scores are shown above:
   1. the 1960s tambour door record cabinet (@bananaandjam)
   2. the 1970s Italian smoked glass and brass coffee table (Vinterior)
   3. the hilarious but beloved 1980s cream leather block chair (Edinburgh Furniture Initiative) 
   4. my original, nude heavy, signed French lithographs from the 1930s – 1970s  (Vinterior) 
   5. I buy only pre-loved stemware, creating a crystal-forward luxury that feels elevated but not try-hard. If a wine glass breaks on a fun night, no biggie, let the ruckus continue. 

4. This one is too silly to not include: Lemons. Just like all the time. In everything. Obviously I can take no real credit for this but it’s something my partner pointed out that is truly one of my “10’s” so here we are. I start most days with half a lemon squeezed in water, pre coffee. My “go-to” salad is a quick crisp up of garlic in olive oil, tossed over arugula (rocket for the Brits) and then finished with a half lemon squeeze on top + cracked salt and pepper. My current drink of choice is a lemon-forward hot toddy: whisky, hot water (get you a British-style electric kettle!), a glob of honey, and a half lemon squeezed, cinnamon stick if feeling fancy. Scurvy is for losers. 
5. The Class. A combo of dance/pilates, HIIT, barre, and therapy… it is my fave workout. When I first went with my cousin in Tribeca in 2015, it blew my mind. As 60 perfectly put-together “it” women moved into minute 5 of slow burpees… everyone came undone. We became primal, crying, inward focused (!!) stripped-back humans. Like all great studio classes it’s a killer workout, to a killer soundtrack, in a killer environment. But to me, it’s become a true practice, helping my anxiety, the way I relate to myself and others, and the way I understand my own thought patterns. As Covid hit, they launched a digital studio, and I have been a member ever since. I’ve got a referral link if you want to try it for free for 30 days—you won’t regret it. Some of my most sacred moments over the past 3 years have been alone in my flat, surrounded by candles, The Class blaring in my Beats and sweat (and tears) dripping down my face. Start with taking from Natalie, my fave teacher. 100% go IRL when in NYC or LA. 

6. Face yoga over botox. No shade for any approach to keeping it tight, but something that being outside of the US has imprinted on me is that living life is gorgeous, and for me that means making peace with, loving, and (dare I say…) not freezing my skin’s progression through the years. This year I subscribed to a Face Yoga app, and daily toning exercises have added strength to my expressions and tone to lift (my facialist has been impressed). Add lymphatic drainage gua sha (shout out, Mimi and Verushka!) and Dieux reusable forever eye mask + Boum Boum Milk + smoothed out with a cold jade roller in the morning et voila! An approach to looking my best that helps my body’s systems work better together. Top with a swipe of Merit, obvi. 

7. My top UK brands: Ok ok it’s not all secondhand, people! I’ve learned which shopping I miss (and get compliments on) when I am in the US, so shoutouts here for my Bri’ish heroes:
   1. Iconic Liberty, when in London, for everything that makes life gorgeous. 
   2. To brush up on the world’s best independent brands, it’s Wolf and Badger (Anthropologie wishes), the B Corp insaaane dept store started in London but expanded now to NYC and LA for you lucky stateside readers. 
   3. Danish based Rains for cool/chic waterproof streetwear (great backpacks and collapsable-in-small-bag jackets), 
   4. AC Hare for the best IYKYK rugged handmade Chelsea boots, 
   5. Tartan Blanket Co based in Edinburgh for fab blankets and scarves (my go-to baby gift is the personalized lambswool baby blanket— yes they ship stateside). 
   6. Maya Magal, a woman-owned sustainable London jeweler who made our engagement ring from recycled gold and my grandmother-in-law’s 1860’s diamond (+ sourced a few more vintage stones to take it ott). She has great ready-to-wear everyday designs too and is a pro at metal mixing, like the Lava T-Bar necklace inaugural Guest of Ten’s Arienne gifted me on our London trip this summer. I never take it off. 
   7. Treen, my fave independent Edinburgh boutique, swing in and have a chat with the owner Cat about sustainable, slow, considered (and FAB) fashion
   8. And ofc Mimi’s and my high street faves- COS (available in the US) and Jigsaw 

8. Fashion as an intellectual wellness tool. In the crowded substack world, I’ve been theoretically educated by two key style players who I deem well worth my subscriptions and time. What I love about both of these women is the ethos to shop your closet and look for expansive creativity in what you already have. They also fiercely defend the artistic badassery and importance of self expression in getting dressed- fuck the patriarchal “getting ready is shallow,” bc this shit matters. I am sure you know them, too, but if you don’t, here we go:
   1. Allison Bornstein recently blew up as the “three word” and “wrong shoe” girl, and that’s because she theorizes (aka names so we can understand and repeat) how to use style to feel good, look great, and simplify life. Her IG is a daily drip of inspo and tips, and her recent book Wear It Well has been a big source of productive joy for me lately. One of her rules is to screenshot something and wait 24 hours before purchasing, which jives with my secondhand shopping approach. She suggests making space for a kind, creative, indulgent half-hour on Sunday evenings to plan outfits for the week. Takes me back to my middle school style notebook with Mimi! 
   2. Similarly, Tibi’s founder Amy Smilovic breaks down her design and styling approaches on The Good Ick as well as her IG. A self proclaimed “creative pragmatist,” her thoughts on the color wheel, what makes an ick good vs… icky, and how she breaks down style with her own vocabulary have launched me into a creative frenzy of being all intellectual with my closet, in the best way. Check out her free, weekly style classes on Youtube. 

9. Drawing/painting – little cards, tags, gifts. I recently did our wedding party invitations. The key for me is to get out of my head and not be precious about it. I do these silly drawings quickly, I know I am not an “artist” by trade, and I let go of perfection and just harness how the messiness works. This is specific to me, but the takeaway to Mimi’s dear readers is to identify fun little somethings you gravitate toward that make you you and just do them. My friend flips furniture, another embellishes denim jackets, another paints abstract skyscapes, Mimi runs this fab blog. These are all pretty recent developments, and these friends are all great at these things that started by not being too precious with them. Shoutout to my fellow Guest of 10’s who are considering launching newsletters. This is what I mean— just do it, and you will be surprised by the happiness and satisfaction you feel. 
10. Soul trips with besties- my secret garden of inspiration and joy is maintaining the friendships that are essential to my being and keep me moving forward. For me this year it’s been both receiving loved ones in Edinburgh and meeting friends in London, the French Alps, Memphis, NYC, Maine, Southern Sweden, Sicily, Vegas, Wilmington, Chattanooga. The people matter more than the place— but an epic setting in which to bestie-fuck-around is chef’s kiss. Essential to actually doing these is… actually doing them. Buy that flight. Invite that friend. Go on that road trip. Just do it, the juice far outweighs the squeeze (trust me, I’m a lemon girlie) and we are way too easily distracted by “we’ll do it next years.” There’s always a reason not to that seems big, but it’s way less big than you think. Pro tip— don’t leave a soul hang without starting to talk about the next one. 10 out of 10, as they say. 

Well, this “quick little post” expanded, as Mimi warned me it would. Seems like the common theme is that we all have cannonballed into this welcome creative outlet. I love it!

Thanks for having me Mimi Bestie, and thanks for reading to the end, dear regulars. 

Mwah! Addie