This Monday, VESPER’s earliest subscribers received a complimentary mini-magazine in their inbox—the first edition of The Vault! On the first Monday of each month leading up to the release of our four quarterly magazines, our editors spill the tea on five things we’re loving this month, plus a few tips on how to celebrate what tastes and trends are in season right now.
This is the only time we’re unlocking The Vault for everyone. If you missed out earlier this week, then enjoy the read below—but this won’t happen again! Make sure to subscribe today to guarantee that you receive all future editions of The Vault delivered directly to your mailbox for FREE.
Edition no.1 — Maximalist Girl May
May doesn’t care whether or not you’re a minimalist, and neither do we. This month is all about pulling out all the stops—nothing can get in the way of May.
From Derby Day and the brilliant parade of bow ties and fascinator hats to this week’s much-talked-about Met Gala, the first week of May is especially filled with over-the-top events…and we didn’t even mention Cinco de Mayo! (Any excuse to eat nachos and drink margaritas on a weekday is a good one, in our opinion.) So, with so much to celebrate, why not live out loud? Let’s embrace the outlandish—the extravagant, the insane.
Before we know it, the dog days of summer will be upon us (or the winter’s chill, if you’re south of the Equator) and we’ll be longing for these days of mild sun and scattered showers. But May is about experimentation. Self-expression. (And recognizing both National Hamburger Month and National Salad Month—it’s all about balance.) On a more serious note, it’s also National Mental Health Awareness Month. So, then, what better time to kick up our stiletto heels and let down our tresses than a month that seeks to make advances in improving our mental and emotional well-being?
Our editors have selected five of their current favorite products to help you do just that. Whether you need a hug, a new scent for spring, or a little sweet treat, we’ve got you covered.
no.1 • Book Therapy
How can you not be a fan of Instagram-famous illustrator Megan Hess? With her larger-than-life personal style and enchanting fashion illustrations, she can capture the feeling of girlhood with a single brushstroke, allowing her artwork to fully express the feeling of being alive and inspired and (always) impeccably dressed.
Her latest fashion look book, Fashion in Color, is a celebration of every hue of the rainbow (plus a few others!) through designer clothing. It’s a 224-page masterpiece of modern style and classic glamour with a colorful twist, making it the perfect read for spring!
For a photographic journey through some equally iconic outfits, consider leafing through Vogue’s 2020 collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Featuring dozens of shots of the museum’s clothing collection, the book also highlights photographs from some of the most memorable Met Gala moments over the years. It might not be a ticket to this year’s Met Gala, but our editors can confirm—it’s the next best thing.
no.2 • Estée Lauder x Ladurée
It’s the dream collab we never knew we needed—but now we can’t get enough. Whether you’re a fan of Estée Lauder’s super-luxe skincare and beauty products or Ladurée’s iconic macarons (or both!) you’ll find something to satisfy your sweet tooth and get your complexion glowing in time for the sunshine.
Looking for a new lip shade in time for spring? Don’t miss Estée Lauder’s brilliantly packaged lipstick duo, featuring iconic Ladurée motifs and rich, full-coverage shades to complement your springtime smile. If you’re more of a skincare girl, don’t miss the chance to try four of our favorite Estée Lauder moisturizers—including a full-sized day cream—artfully packaged in a Ladurée-inspired travel bag.
And, since the pastel-pigmented shades of Estée Lauder x Ladurée‘s eyeshadow palette look good enough to eat, we recommend doubling up on the sweetness and treating yourself to an edible indulgence, too. Based in Paris, Ladurée mails its magnificent macarons worldwide—a heart-shaped box of cookies is the ultimate splurge. (Bonus points if you live near one of Ladurée’s global outposts and can order in-person to save yourself the cost of shipping!)
no.3 • Fascinating Hats
You don’t have to have your name on the guest list for the Derby or the Met Gala to rock a feathered hair accessory. While the term “fascinator hat” has only been around for the last several decades, the tradition of adorning one’s tresses with petite hats and nosegays of ribbon and feathers stretches back through the centuries.
The good news is, you can choose to accessorize with one of these fun and frivolous headpieces at any time…whether you’re headed to an exclusive gala or a friend’s house party. While a custom piece can cost more money than you’d make betting on the Derby, you can find plenty of delightful (low-priced) options on Amazon…
Or channel your creativity and create your own with a few spools of ribbon, feathers, a glue gun, and a generic hair clip. With a little practice (and a YouTube video or two) you’ll have your own custom-made accessory. After all, Coco Chanel got her start at a milliner’s…who’s to say you aren’t the next great fashion artist?
no.4 • Springtime Sweets
We’ve been glued to this year’s edition of Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship and for good reason—the magic-themed challenges are bringing touches of the delightful and the delicious to our television screen each and every week. If you need baking inspiration, a new show to binge, or a break from the outside world in general, it’s not too late to start watching…mark your calendar for a week from today for the grand finale!
If you happen to be so inspired, consider taking the baking theme one step further by walking into your own kitchen and turning on the oven. These insanely rich browned butter birthday cake blondies are a mouthful, both in name and ingredients. Be prepared to eat your weight in sugar and chocolate—don’t say we didn’t warn you!—but these decadent, colorful treats are so springy!
Not into television or home baking? (Are you okay?) Well, we’ve got you covered for that, too. For an indulgent springtime treat that doesn’t involve television binging or batter mixing, we can’t recommend a box of Apricot Delight truffles from See‘s Candies fast enough. (While delightfully indulgent, they’re also less likely to cause a coronary than the aforementioned blondies of bliss.)
no.5 • Hair Perfume by /kit•sch/
Maybe we’re late to hop on the hair perfume trend, or maybe we’ve discovered the next big thing. Either way, we recently got our first scent from /kit•sch/ and we are obsessed. Designed not only to add a delectable aroma to your locks, this refreshing spritz is also specifically formulated to mask offending scalp odors, keeping you smelling fresher for longer.
With names like Warm Sugar and Tart Cherry, it’s hard to go wrong with any of these scents, but our current fixation is Pistachio Latte—a blend that happens to be perfect for our self-declared Maximalist May.
Featuring base notes of coffee, praline, and musk that give way to middle notes of coconut, cherry and pistachio, the spritz finishes with a light citrus overtone perfect for springtime. While coffee and bergamot might not immediately come to mind as a match made in heaven, the results are in—one spritz of this perfume and you’ll be smelling absolutely angelic.
One lucky subscriber won a bottle of /kit•sch/ in a scent of their choice—all current magazine subscribers receive complimentary entries into monthly giveaways with a delightful rotation of premium goodies. That alone is reason to sign up—not to mention, we’re counting down the days until our first full-length edition releases in September with monthly mini-edits just like this.
Trust us when we say this—you won’t want to miss any of the fun!