Soft Hands, Soft Heart

The snow is still coming down and it doesn't look as if winter will be letting us out its grumpy grip anytime soon, but Spring will come, never fear! For now, I'll just enjoy the beauty of all of this snowfall. That's not to say I could do without some of the burdens of the season. For example, I've had it just about up to here with dry skin. Short of taking extravagant Maria Antoinette style almond milk baths every day (ooh, is that an option?), it's hard to know what to do. Luckily, there are some wonderful products out there for what takes the most damage- our poor little hands.

The Princess

$24 at Pickwick's Mercantile

 This is the perfect lightweight moisturizer for transitioning into Spring. With a fresh honeycomb scent and packed with cocoa, shea, and avocado butter, it looks pretty in your bag, smells lovely, and actually gets the job done. If you don't suffer too terribly from cactus-dermis, but do like to have soft paws, this is a light and lovely choice.

The Ranger

Murchison-Hume started off as the passion project of an engineer and fashion editor whose son developed allergies to common household cleaning products. They make a whole line of wonderful Australian White Grapefruit scented products that do everything from clean the mirrors to, well, clean your hands. Their Velvet Glove Hand Cream works really well, especially when paired with their Superlative Liquid Hand Soap. At $14 a bottle, it is something of a best kept secret sort of product. Also, it doesn't have a flowery scent, so the gentleman can use it without feeling guilty.

The Luxe

$50 at Pickwick's Mercantile

Okay, you know we're obsessed. Santa Maria Novella products are so amazing that we did a two-post expose on them, not long ago (see here and here). This almond paste is literally legendary, reputed to be the first product ever made by the Dominican monks, hundreds of years ago. Its magic combination of almond oil, grapeseed oil, egg yolk, and virgin beeswax has been saving asylum seekers from dry skin on hands and elbows for all of that time. 

The King

$25 at Pickwick's Mercantile

If I had the forethought to seek testimonials, they would have come pouring from the woodwork because this moisturizer is amazing. It is the first product we show anyone who mentions they're suffering from dry or cracking hands and once it goes home with someone, it will almost certainly go home with them again. 97% natural, made completely in the USA, and vegan, it also has a homey oatmeal, vetiver, vanilla scent that is soothing and won't distract from your perfume or cologne. This is most definitely customer's choice and mine, as well.

Valentine's Day has passed in a flurry of red and swooning and now all sights on State Street are set on waiting out the rest of the cold weather in style- cozy, chic, and well moisturized. Come on by, we'll make sure you're the same!

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Can't come in to snag these treats for your special someones? 

That's alright! Send me an e-mail at thistlejones@gmail.com to order

and we will make sure they arrive, wrapped and ready on your doorstep!

A Very Chilly Valentine's

Spirits were so high down on State Street today that we couldn't resist putting together a flirty little outfit from some of the pieces lying around the shop. The lovely Bronte acquiesced to model a casual look for the holiday and hearts were warm down by the water.

Heart Parasol - $22 at Pickwick's Mercantile

Gaia Headpiece - $48 at Pickwick's Mercantile

Bronte paired her signature Gaia, a beautiful sage velvet headpiece, with all of the warm colors of the bundles of roses that decorated her scarf. Paired together with the neutral of the Subtle Luxury, lace-backed cashmere sweater this outfit had all of the best style elements of the holiday: velvet, lace, and roses. There wasn't much weather for the heart-shaped parasol to fend off, but boy, did it look cute!

Subtle Luxury Sweater - $150 at Pickwick's Mercantile
Rose Scarf - $24 at Pickwick's Mercantile

 Can you believe there's no edit on that beautiful skin? I blame Santa Maria Novella, all the way. Pearls are always a sweet and feminine touch, perfectly timeless and they go with everything!

Halcyon Days - $120 at Pickwick's Mercantile
Midi Ring - $20 at Pickwick's Mercantile
Rose Bracelet - $10 at Pickwick's Mercantile

As we wrapped up our romantic little photoshoot, a scandal arose! 

Evidence Exhibit A:

Morris's Janessa Leone hat - $150 at Pickwick's Mercantile
Historical Heartthrobs - $17.99  at Pickwick's Mercantile
Squishable Octopus - $38 at Pickwick's Mercantile

Here Bronte was spotted reading Historical Heartthrobs to Morris, the Squishable Octopus, but introduce-

 Exhibit B!

Only moments later, she was spotted with all of the accoutrements (chocolate strawberries and chocolate wine!) of a lovely Valentine's lunch with her long-time fishy "friend", Deepwater Dave! The plot thickens. 

I hope you are all off to enjoy the trappings of the evening with your loved ones, readers! Do you have a Valentine's Day adventure or outfit that gets your heart beating a little faster? Share it on instagram and tag us (@pickwickstyle), we can't wait to see what sort of style sensibilities are being unleashed in the name of Love! The happiest of Valentine's Day weekends; may it return all of the love that you have given in the long year past.

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Can't come in to snag these treats for your special someones? 

That's alright! Send me an e-mail at thistlejones@gmail.com to order

and we will make sure they arrive, wrapped and ready on your doorstep!

Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Valentine's Day Gift Guide by pickwickstyle showing what to wear with leather handbags

Love comes in all shapes and sizes and, although every day is a celebration of the folks that make our lives lovelier, Valentine's Day is an opportunity to thank and appreciate the ones that make our hearts beat a little faster. Here at Pickwick's, we've put together our top picks for the romantic side of the holiday!

Lady Pickwick’s Pick: Peony Pillar Candle - $34

                This soy wax candle has a floral scent so light that it won’t drive the gentleman of the house from the room, but will set the mood for any comfortable space. Set this between the tapers for your candlelight dinner to present it as a surprise gift. And don’t worry about stepping on the toes of the master decorator; the beautiful pale pink design on the reusable glass will fit in anywhere.

Bronte’s Pick: Annabel Ingall “Coco” in Saddle - $410

                This beautiful leather bag is really closer to a merlot than a saddle, in my opinion, but no matter the color, it cannot be denied that it is the perfect purse. Annabel Ingall is an Australian designer at the forefront of sleek and practical design using high quality materials and colors that we can’t get over. Your lady love will use this piece for years to come and love it so much that she might retire her other bags!

Thistle’s Pick: Halcyon Days Salamander Hinge Bracelet in Gold & Ivory - $120

                Jewelry is the most classic of all Valentine’s Day Gift options. If you are going the traditional route, this piece is ideal- sleek and understated, it will go with nearly everything she owns and is of heirloom quality. Handmade in England, this brass bracelet will last a lifetime.

Julep’s Pick: Acqua di Colonia “Tobacco” Cologne - $125

                Perfume is a brave and perfect choice for a Valentine’s Day gift. As it’s such a personal item, it says you know her well enough to choose a scent for her to live in and that you are confident enough to make that call. We have only recently started carrying this selection from the Santa Maria Novella apothecary in Florence, Italy, but everyone in the shop is already thoroughly enamored.  This unisex scent, a sweet tobacco with hints of amber and vanilla, is ideal for the confident woman in your life.

Brian's Pick: Le Dame Aux Camelias by Jardins D'Ecrivains - $150

      This cologne was one of Lady Pickwick's discoveries, stumbled upon in a Paris boutique. Originally designed to be worn to bed *wink*, the notes includes spicy cardamom, orange blossom, and sweet rose with warm underpinnings of musk and juniper wood. Sweet with a hint of the seductress- does that describe your darling? As a bonus, she'll love the old world charm of the atomizer!

I hope you're all gearing up for the happiest of Valentine's Days!

"A loving heart is the truest wisdom."

- Charles Dickens

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Can't come in to snag these treats for your special someones? 

That's alright! Send me an e-mail at thistlejones@gmail.com to order

and we will make sure they arrive, wrapped and ready on your doorstep!