Cappuccino Thoughts 77: On Hellos!
Getting featured by Substack, new Plum Sykes book, and a very Brooklyn outfit of the week
Hi there! We have a big batch of new subscribers thanks to Substack’s feature of Cap Thoughts. I wanted to take this short holiday week to (re)introduce the publication.
It was a massive honor to be selected by Substack as a featured publication. Cappuccino Thoughts feels like the truest expression of myself. I’m so glad I get to share it with all of you.
Cappuccino Thoughts is a weekly newsletter devoted to culture and creativity. It’s mostly about New York City, with occasional global dispatches. It comes out on Monday mornings and each issue includes a short essay on the theme of the week, an update on the upcycled bag project I am building, a look of the week, and “what’s on the bedside table,” which is about the book I’m currently reading. (I tend toward literary fiction. I recently went through a big Japanese lit phase and now am sinking into an Irish lit era.)
Every month you can expect:
-Espresso Thoughts, quick takes about the state of the world.
-A neighborhood guide to all the corners of New York City. (I’ve previously covered the Upper East Side, Gramercy, the East Village, and Chinatown.)
-А more personal reflection or essay. It could be about how I survived my quarter life crisis, the craziest sauna experience in the city, or how to read more.
-A wrap-up of all the new spots I hit in the preceding month, usually featuring new cafes, restaurants, art exhibits, Broadway shows, and other fun ways to spend time.
I also host an annual walk themed around coffee and connection. Last year, we walked 15 miles through Manhattan and stopped at 5 coffee shops. Everyone left with new memories, new friends, and full of so much caffeine that at least two people couldn’t sleep that night! This year’s walk will be Saturday, September 28, 2024. Details to come.
If you want to learn more about me, you can check out my website. If you have any comments or questions, you can always reach me at claire.akkan@gmail.com.
Thanks for being here! I can’t wait to share a virtual cappuccino with you.
Updates on the bag brand
In case you’re new here, the story is I upcycle vintage designer leather and suede bags and bring them back to life by relining them with vintage silk scarves and other textiles. Every bag is one of one, because who wants the same thing everyone else has? I sell online, at By Liv boutique in Brooklyn, and soon at two more New York stores. I started this project 18 months ago, and every week I share a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a brand from scratch in New York.
While in Turkey visiting my in-laws last week, I saw my manufacturer. I am so pleased with the quality of the bags, which are truly some of my favorites I’ve ever made. I have lots of black leather Gucci bags (I know that’s what you want!) as well as a fun pink nylon Prada bag, a gorgeous light brown Bottega Veneta, and more. I will be uploading them all to my website in the coming weeks.
We are also making the first sample for the top secret new product that I’ll be releasing later this summer! I gave my manufacturer the prototype and fabric. I can’t wait for you guys to see this.
Look of the week
Sometimes a person just oozes cool and all you can do is stand back and admire. My friend M. took me to her favorite Greenpoint coffee shop, Rhythm Zero, and everyone looked like they just walked off the Eckhaus Latta runway. This person was planted in the middle of the coffee shop and the jewel tone colors and distinctive silhouette of her outfit drew all eyes toward her. I think this look is helped by following the “rule of three” – that is, only wearing three colors in an outfit. The lack of jewelry or accessories helps keep this already over-the-top look somewhat restrained. It’s an exercise in contrasts that wouldn’t seem to match but somehow come together—the sporty leggings paired with the retro heels, lavender clam shell top, sunglasses inside, all topped off with a funky haircut—dare we say, a mullet?
P.S. If you’re inspired to recreate this look at home, I think the top is by Nigerian designerAndrea Iyamah and is, in fact, a bodysuit.
What’s on the bedside table
This week I took a break from Tolstoy to take on a beach read while on my annual summer holiday. Wives Like Us is about the “country princesses” in the Cotswolds—wealthy, glamorous, and often on horseback. The book is told through the perspective of Ian, the executive butler with a Gucci loafer addiction and enough charisma to make every man, woman, and child fall in love with him. Ian helps the country princesses take on conniving neighbors, marital strife, political intrigue, and the perfect dinner party. I really like the Sykes sisters, both former Vogue writers (Pandora now writes the newsletter
, definitely recommend) and this is well-written, light-hearted fare, which is not always easy to find. Four stars.Thanks for reading Cappuccino Thoughts. If you want more where this came from, subscribe here.
If you liked this issue, hit that like button or leave me a comment! It’s really helpful for me to understand what you all want more or less of.
This week I am….celebrating the Fourth on the West Coast.
Catch up on recent issues:
I know your book reccos are solid, Claire bc I just finished “The Rachel Incident” and I loved it!
Congrats on the feature, that's so cool!