<![CDATA[ Marie Claire ]]> https://www.marieclaire.com Wed, 27 Mar 2024 01:01:38 +0000 en <![CDATA[ The Art-Meets-Tech Piece That Will Completely Transform Your Living Space ]]> Art has always been an inspiration to me. My mom was the art docent at my elementary school, and my brother is an artist, so I grew up with an affinity for the inspiring subject. My role as a fashion editor brings out my artistic side every day, and I'm extremely interested in interior design while I decorate my new home. So when I learned about LG and its mission to enrich people's understanding of art through its technology, I was instantly intrigued.

With its OLED TVs, LG is redefining what's possible in the art world, connecting artists to audiences through television. In collaboration with a handful of notable artists, LG is bringing artwork to its OLED screens, allowing audiences to discover the world of art in their homes with stunning color and clarity. I was lucky enough to experience the magic firsthand at Frieze Los Angeles over the weekend, where the LG OLED TV was on display in all its beautiful glory.

lg oled tv

(Image credit: LG)

LG's most recent partnership with leading street artist Shepard Fairey was spectacular. In this new installation, Fairey blended physical and digital mediums to re-create his 2017 exhibition, Damaged, using LG OLED TVs. His iconic graffiti style was captivating and moving—I could have stared at it all day. It's safe to say I'm excited for what's to come with LG's artist initiative, but in the meantime, I'll be telling everyone I know about its TVs, which make the perfect functional home décor pieces when displaying stunning art. Discover the LG world and how it can fit into your home below.

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https://www.marieclaire.com/home/lg-oled-tv/ jzC4MsNS82gxofzhAjj7wE Mon, 11 Mar 2024 21:11:27 +0000
<![CDATA[ 16 Top-Tier Items to Gift With This Holiday Season ]]> Call me ambitious, but this holiday season, I’m attempting to resist my procrastinating tendencies. I want to be able to enjoy my favorite time of the year without feeling the stress of securing last-minute presents for all my family and friends. That’s why QVCs Nonstop Holiday Party couldn’t have come at a better time. From November 4 to 5, QVC will be hosting an immersive live shopping experience that showcases the best products to gift your loved ones with this season. The event will not only highlight the QVC team’s helpful expertise for a consecutive 49 hours but also feature amazing sales and promotions that you definitely don’t want to miss. (Note: The below sale prices officially go live today, so be sure to come back and shop.) From cozy throw blankets to buzzy beauty products to a brand-new Apple Watch, here are 16 top-tier items that I can’t wait to shop from the event.

This content is sponsored by QVC.

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https://www.marieclaire.com/home/top-tier-holiday-gifts-qvc/ rqvCbubwTvDboHqJ8nWWwL Sat, 04 Nov 2023 16:01:29 +0000
<![CDATA[ Thuma's Cult-Favorite Bed Frame Is the Best Thing I Bought for My New Apartment ]]> Welcome to Power Picks, a monthly series on the things that help us navigate our lives, step into our personal power, or simply get us through our day-to-day. Our hope is that by sharing what makes us feel great, we can help you feel great, too.


When my fiancé and I moved in together over the summer, we had some choices to make. Our beds were both on their last legs and the thought of disassembling one of them, moving it up four flights of stairs, and then re-building it seemed like a nightmare on top of the nightmare that already was moving in New York City over the summer. Researching for a new bed frame kept bringing me back to one option: Thuma's The Bed.

Thuma calls it the "perfect platform bed frame," and I would have to agree. We wanted something with a low profile that we would be able to have for the rest of our lives together (big ask, I know). It had to be sleek, well constructed, have a minimal profile that would match any decor color, and come in a neutral brown to match the rest of our bedroom furniture. Thuma's The Bed did just that.

Another reason why Thuma's bed frame was so appealing to us is because it requires no tools to build. After spending hours (and hours) struggling with building every other piece of furniture in my apartment over the years, that fact alone was enough to add it to my cart. The pieces all slot together and you have to tighten two screws by hand—and that's it.

You can shop it in sizes twin through California King in four colors: Walnut—our pick— which is a medium brown; Natural, a paler unfinished option; Espresso, a deeper black-brown; and Grey. You can also decide whether or not you want a headboard and, if you do want one, you can decide whether you want it to be fabric or wood to match the bed. We opted for a queen-sized option with an all-wood look. The site also has very clear measurements online, so I had no trouble figuring out which size would work best in our room. The entire bed and wooden headboard came out to just over $1,000. Getting the additional padded headboard costs a little more.

The shipping process was super simple—it came in just over a week in three boxes that weighed just under 10 pounds each. Getting each box up the multiple flights of stairs was the only real struggle I had when assembling the bed. However, this would not be an issue if you had an elevator or didn’t happen to live on the top floor of a walk-up-only building. 

Now onto the real test—if it was actually as easy to build as it claimed to be online. My verdict? Yes, this is super easy to build. In fact, my partner built the entire queen-sized bed frame in under an hour. Every piece was slotted together and there was only one section where he had to use two hand-tightened screws. All I had to do was put my mattress (a Casper, which I’ve previously reviewed for this column) on top, make the bed, and voila! We had a place to sleep.

Next up on our shopping list is one (or several) of the many accessories or "Upgrades," as the brand calls them, that Thuma sells to complement its best-selling frame. It is truly designed for small spaces. You can buy a Pillowboard or plain Headboard if you get bored of the one you picked, a Tray that slots onto the side of the bed like a very minimal side table, or a Sleeve that hangs down from the side to hold your laptop or book like a very sleek side table. However, Thuma also sells its own Side Table, a small collection of Nightstands, a Rug, a wide selection of Bedding and Mattresses, and a Dresser if you want to complete the look.

Keep scrolling to shop The Bed and all of the many accessories that go along with it. This is by far the best thing I've ever gotten for my new apartment, and I can tell that it's going to be in my life for a very, very long time.

Shop Thuma's The Bed & More

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https://www.marieclaire.com/home/thuma-bed-frame-review/ dXhwRBzbXdDQHXhmYNid3o Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:39:55 +0000
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https://www.marieclaire.com/home/ecomm-affiliate-verification/ 52dc3YG4o4WDPausiyLZ23 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 22:48:01 +0000
<![CDATA[ These Beloved Kitchen Brands Are Slashing Prices On Their Bestsellers For Cyber Monday ]]> I absolutely love cooking—especially when fall and winter roll around. On days when it's raining or snowing, or when it's simply too chilly to step outside, there's nothing better than cooking a huge pot of soup or a hearty spaghetti sauce. The house smells incredible all day, and the cozy feel of a warm meal is bound to kick the winter blues any day. But experimenting with new recipes is easier (and safer) when you have the right ingredients, which means poring over pages upon pages of kitchenware, looking for a deal that suits both my needs and my price point.

Fellow chefs alike are in luck—it's now Cyber Monday, which means that prices have been slashed on hundreds of products perfect for all chefs—novice, advanced, or something in between. Below, I've listed some of my favorite can't-miss deals from the sales event.

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https://www.marieclaire.com/home/prime-big-deal-days-kitchen-deals/ WWsXxiRRWi35ntu5Udqbu6 Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:08:30 +0000
<![CDATA[ Power Pick: Sixpenny Sofa ]]> Knowing that people (myself included) spend an average of two hours a day lounging on the couch, and as someone who needed a new place to kick my feet up, I was on the hunt to find a great new sofa that checks all of the boxes: comfy, stylish, and functional. With so many options on the market, finding the right one can feel overwhelming, so, like most, I took to the internet,  where I discovered one of social media's favorite furniture brands—Sixpenny.

Sixpenny, founded in 2017, started as a direct-to-consumer brand that designs, sources, and manufactures all of their pieces directly, making their stylish and internet-beloved slip-covered couches also pretty affordable compared to traditional high-end furniture brands. Working closely with their supply chain also means added control over the product's quality and a more sustainable ethos. With the success of the company's sofas and sectionals, they've since branched out to other big-ticket furniture pieces like dining tables, consoles, and, most recently, bed frames upholstered in the brand's signature slipcover material. I decided to give the buzzy start-up brand a go, and I'm sure glad I did.

I knew I wanted a sectional style to accommodate myself, my husband, and our two fur babes (a dog and a cat that love to lounge). After scrolling through Sixpenny's sectional options, I landed on the Devyn Chaise Sectional for its contemporary aesthetic and deep-seated cushions. I selected a feather-down filling to get that cozy sunk-in feeling. 

One of the huge draws of Sixpenny and why it's innately customizable are its slipcovers (especially intriguing for people with kiddos and pets). Available in several different materials—cotton canvas, cotton linen, thread-dyed cotton linen, washed cotton linen, washed cotton velvet, lightweight linen, and medium-weight linen—you can swap out slipcovers as you need, and with some mindfulness, you can even machine wash the slipcovers when some unforeseen event (like a very unfortunate red wine spill) makes a mess of them. While the brand says "there's no foolproof, works every time miracle approach to washing a slipcover," having the option to remove and launder it is a whole lot better than the alternative and my previous approach to a big-time spill, which consisted of a lot of panicking, googling, and willful blotting. When it comes to colors, there are 29 hues to choose from that range from quiet oat-colored neutrals to more saturated marigolds and burgundy. Before you order, Sixpenny sends over a swatch kit, making it a lot easier to visualize what each color looks like IRL.

Once I selected my four-piece Devyn Chaise Sectional in the oat flour colorway in a light linen fabric and a luxurious down filling, I received an email detailing what would come next, alongside a note from customer service checking to make sure the boxes, when delivered, would clear our elevator and doorways, knowing we are living in a New York City apartment notorious for narrow hallways and tricky corridors. After measuring and getting the clear that these boxes would, in fact, make it into our apartment (but something to be aware of if you live in a smaller space), the waiting game began, as our couch (all of them made-to-order) would take about ten to twelve weeks to arrive.

The delivery (10/10) was seamless from start to finish, so much so that I went to the office feeling confident that I could pass on the point person torch to my husband to oversee all the day-of logistics. After an initial call stating the delivery window, and with the help of the brand's "white glove service option," several men arrived, unwrapped the pieces, and locked the sectional into place via alligator-style clips. Because the sectionals are modular, you can set them up in different configurations.

If you're looking for a couch with the look and feel of a big fluffy cloud, then the Devyn sectional is for you. The comfort level is an A+ partly because of the design's deep seating, oversized cushions, and extra long leg room where the ottoman sits. All that said, you will need ample space for this style as it's Sixpenny's largest couch offering. Something like the Neva sectional— the brand's most popular couch—also looks great and might be a better contender for more compact spaces.

I can see why Sixpenny has made quite a name for itself. Ultra comfy, easy to maintain, and very stylish, we love our couch so much that we're giving the two-hour-a-day average a run for its money.

Shop Sixpenny

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https://www.marieclaire.com/home/sixpenny-sectional-review/ F8WHwodfXoZoV5qNGRjoxS Fri, 21 Jul 2023 14:00:53 +0000
<![CDATA[ I Just Moved—These 21 Small Apartment Essentials Are Going in My Cart on Prime Day ]]> A fun fact about me is that I just moved in with my boyfriend and, while our budget certainly expanded when combining our two incomes, it by no means amounted to enough for the massive apartment of my dreams. So I’ve been scouring the internet for every single space-saving hack out there—and that search invariably led me to Amazon and their very good deals for Amazon Prime Day. Meet: The best small apartment essentials on Amazon, all of which are majorly discounted right now.

This list includes every single thing you need to make your small space feel like home: Chic, machine-washable rugs! Vacuums that take up as little space as humanly possible in your only closet! Smart (small) speakers that will make you feel like you’re living in the future! With lightning-fast shipping and can’t-be-beaten prices, Amazon’s annual Prime Day Sale—happening July 11 and 12—is the place to go to buy all of the name-brand items you’ve been secretly saving on Pinterest and Instagram ever since you moved in. 

Keep scrolling to see and shop all of the deals. I’ve broken them down by price so you can skip around to find pieces that fit within your budget. Prepare to fall in love with your space all over again—I guarantee it.

When Does Prime Day End?

  • Amazon Prime Days will end on Wednesday, July 12 at 11:59 PM PDT. 
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https://www.marieclaire.com/home/prime-day-small-apartment-essentials/ BJyoSWGoRd6yn4qxcJRb4 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 12:58:54 +0000
<![CDATA[ I Love to Cook—This Amazon Prime Day, I'll Be Shopping These Kitchen Essentials ]]> Whether you've just moved into a new apartment or you're looking to upgrade your space, having a well-stocked kitchen filled with premium appliances is an essential factor in feeling like a true, functioning adult. Rather than opting for inexpensive kitchen items and cookware with short shelf lives, why not invest in a piece that will last you for years and make cooking a breeze? And this Amazon Prime Day, it's easier than ever, because some of the most popular, high-quality brands around are slashing their prices on highly coveted items.

Scroll on for some of the best, editor-approved kitchen items on sale for Prime Day this week. From A+ appliances to high-performance pans and even food gifts, you'll be able to outfit your kitchen with everything it needs this summer—and at a fraction of the cost.

Mr. Coffee Iced and Hot Coffee Maker $65 $44 | Amazon

No space? No problem. This ultra-thin coffee maker, which brews both hot and iced coffee, fits in even the tiniest of kitchens and even includes accessories like a reusable coffee filter and a signature tumbler.View Deal

Rubbermaid 60-Piece Food Storage Containers with Lids $39 $30 | Amazon

I bought this set of storage containers when I was moving apartments two years ago, and they’ve proven to be incredibly durable and useful for any and every food storage need, from whole dinners to small sides of dressing.View Deal

Crock-Pot Large 8 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker $70 $56 | Amazon

Slowcookers are absolute game-changers in food preparation, allowing you to work, run errands, and essentially ignore your food while it’s cooking—without worrying about safety. And this option features an auto-warm setting and includes a cookbook to boot.View Deal

HYSapientia Air Fryer Convection Oven $190 $152 | Amazon

When I found out that my last apartment wouldn’t have an oven, I rushed to Amazon and bought this studio-friendly option. It fits on top of a countertop or mini fridge and has all the capabilities of an air fryer and an oven, from roasting chicken to baking a tray of cookies.View Deal

Coravin Timeless Three SL Wine Preservation System $179 $100 | Amazon

If you love wine, hate wasting it, and don’t have room for any more large appliances, consider this gadget from Coravin. It uses argon gas to safely preserve wine for weeks after opening, and it works much like a cork, so you can save wine, money, and counter space, too.View Deal

Crock-Pot Electric Lunch Box, Portable Food Warmer $45 $32 | Amazon

I love bringing my own lunch to work, but I don’t like it served cold. Enter this portable food warmer, which heats food slowly and evenly so that your food is perfect by the time lunch hour rolls around.View Deal

Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer for Coffee and Tea $20 $10 | Amazon

When working from home, I often find myself sipping cold tea or coffee because of how long it takes me to finish a cup. This mug warmer, which is on sale for a whopping 50 percent off, is the perfect addition to my routine, so that every sip can taste freshly brewed, all day long.View Deal

KitchenAid Casserole with Lid, 4 Quart, Brushed Stainless Steel $50 $36 | Amazon

A good casserole pot is always handy, especially if you’re meal prepping for the week or simply whipping up a meal for a family or group of friends. This option from KitchenAid is oven safe, with comfortable silicone handles and a shatterproof glass lid, so you can count on it for meals and meals to come.View Deal

Dreametech H12 Pro $500 $350 | Amazon

Not only does this vacuum work on all floor types as a dry or wet vac, but it’s particularly well suited for cleaning up kitchen messes because of its ability to neutralize odors. It also prevents mildew and mold, and is made to reach crumbs in even the tightest of corners. View Deal

ThermoPro Twin TempSpike 500FT Truly Wireless Meat Thermometer $200 $150 | Amazon

Never worry about whether your meat is fully cooked again. This meat thermometer makes checking your food easier than ever, with its two prongs, waterproof hardware, and the mobile app it pairs with.View Deal

Brabantia Bo Touch Top Trash Can $245 $196 | Amazon

This touch top trash can is equipped with ultra sensitive technology that makes the lid open wide for you at the slightest graze.View Deal

Caraway 2 Quart Whistling Tea Kettle $225 $175 | Amazon

My tea kettle might just be the most frequently used appliance in my kitchen, so I’m glad I opted for a cute one like this option from Caraway. It comes in eight colors, including thisView Deal

Vitamix Propel Series 750 Blender $630 $441| Amazon

This BPA-free, dishwasher-safe blender is a top notch option for anyone in need of a multi-purpose blender. It makes soups, purées, smoothies, and more, and even self-cleans. View Deal

Proctor Silex Single-Serve Coffee Maker $40 $28 | Amazon

This coffee maker has a 40 ounce reservoir, so it can make up to four 10 ounce cups of coffee without any need to refill the water. Plus, it comes with a reusable pod that you can load coffee grounds in for a more sustainable single-cup experience.View Deal

Hydros 64oz Water Filter Glass Pitcher $45 $32 | Amazon

This compact glass water pitcher quickly filters tap water and boasts a lightweight design that's easy to lift, store, and fill.View Deal

American Kitchen Cookware Premium Nonstick Frying Pan $225 $158| Amazon

This 12 inch nonstick frying pan is incredibly versatile: It's suitable for any stove type, is oven-safe up to 500 degrees, and promises to cook evenly every single time. View Deal

Vitamix 5200 Blender $550 $385| Amazon

This high-performance blender from Vitamix has a 64 ounce container suitable for making dinner for your entire family. It's also self-cleaning, boasts variable speed control, and comes in three colors. View Deal

KitchenAid Hard Anodized Nonstick Sauté Pan with Lid and Helper Handle $59 $48 | Amazon

Sauté pans are among the most useful pieces of cookware in any chef's repertoire, suitable for one-pot dishes, meats, pies, seafood, sauces, and more. This option is also oven-safe and promises to heat evenly.View Deal

MANNKITCHEN Pepper Cannon $199 $159 | Amazon

This professional-grade pepper cannon is designed to dispense pepper with fewer, easier cranks so that, in the brand's words, "you can pepper your steak in seven cranks instead of 70."View Deal

Proctor-Silex Buffet Server & Food Warmer $55 $35 | Amazon

If you love entertaining, consider this server and food warmer. It works even more effectively than those disposable aluminum pans, is sturdier, and since it's meant to last, it's more sustainable, too. View Deal

Boxxle Box Wine Dispenser $130 $91| Amazon

Love wine and hate wasting it? This chic wine dispenser holds up to three liters of wine at a time and keeps it fresh for up to six weeks after the bottle was initially opened. It also makes for easy pouring and serving, allowing you to drink and enjoy at your own pace.View Deal

American Kitchen Premium Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Nonstick Casserole Pan $190 $133 | Amazon

This handy oven-safe casserole pan is made with two layers of stainless steel and an aluminum core, ensuring both even heating and durability.View Deal

KLOVEO Champagne Stoppers $25 $18| Amazon

Opening a bottle of champagne is a lot of pressure (pun intended), since the drink flattens quickly. This easy-to-use stopper fits all standard bottle necks and promises to keep champagne fresh and cold for weeks to come. View Deal

Vinci 12 Cup Coffee Maker $150 $128 | Amazon

As much as I love my single-serve coffee maker, there's nothing quite like a full pot of perked coffee, especially when you're having guests over. This option makes up to 12 cups at a time, has a reusable filter, and even features a pause setting.View Deal

Tramontina Cookware Set Nonstick 11-Piece Charcoal Gray $111 $85 | Amazon

This is the perfect purchase for anyone who's moved into their own place for the first time, or who's looking to get into cooking. It comes with 11 pots and pans of varying sizes, including a colander, and every single one is nonstick.View Deal

AspenClean Unscented Dishwasher Pods $18 $14 | Amazon

If you're investing in new cookware and dishware, you should also invest in products that clean them. These pods are biodegradable, compostable, free of harsh chemicals, and are tough on grease, too. View Deal

Brabantia Bo Touch Top Trash Can $208 $138 | Amazon

This 16 gallon trash can keeps odors from infecting your kitchen, and has a handy pedal and removable compartment that makes it easy to use. It also comes with free trash bags. View Deal

Revolution R180S Touchscreen Toaster $345 $280 | Amazon

Behold, the item you never knew you needed: A touchscreen toaster. This high-powered gadget has six settings as well as a panini function and panini press accessory, making breakfast and lunch easier than it's ever been.View Deal

Vitamix Immersion Blender $190 $133| Amazon

For those who love to make soups, an immersion blender is a game-changer. It allows users to blend without ever taking the mixture out of the pot, and View Deal

Vinci Hands-Free Electric Citrus Juicer $100 $85 | Amazon

Fresh juice in the mornings? Count me in. And this hands-free option, compact option makes juicing easier than ever before.View Deal

American Kitchen Premium Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Nonstick Frying Pan Set $240 $168| Amazon

Without a doubt, the avid chef needs more than just one pan, and this set is quite the steal for anyone looking to get their cookware collection started. It includes an eight, ten, and twelve inch pan, each of which is nonstick and promises to last for ages. View Deal

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https://www.marieclaire.com/home/amazon-prime-day-kitchen-deals/ RsA92TwZrbmzNfYBcUdcfJ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:00:20 +0000
<![CDATA[ This Weekend, Stock Up On Stationery With Papier's Site-Wide Sale ]]> I don't know about you, but I'm a fiend for aesthetic stationery, like notebooks and planners. Even when I'm stressed, it always makes me feel better to manage that stress with books and pens that make me happy. Thus, I'm always on the lookout for high-quality pens, highlighters, and books from design-oriented, beloved brands like Papier. SO, this Memorial Day Weekend, one of the first sales I'll be taking advantage of is their rare, site-wide 15 percent off sale on what they lovingly refer to as "desk treasures."

This sale slashes prices on just about any stationery item you can think of, from journals to writing implements to recipe books. It also includes their chic, thoughtful collaborations, like their recent partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The collaboration specifically takes inspiration from the art nouveau-era designs of Margaret Neilson Armstrong, an American illustrator that designed hundreds of iconic hardcover book during the beginning of the twentieth century.

Below, some of my favorite pieces on sale this weekend. Be sure to snatch them up quick before the sale ends on May 30.

Papier Grove Rollerball Pen $18 $15 | Papier

These pens are a writer's dream, complete with a smooth rollerball that glides across the page and a ribbed texture that makes for a comfortable grip. They come in two colors: this subdued blue and a soft peach.View Deal

Papier The Jag Notecard Set $31 $27 | Papier

When I finally invested in a personalized, luxe notecard set, I immediately felt more elevated and organized. These make everything from thank you notes to office correspondence look elegant, with a touch of edge thanks to the black and white jaguar crawling down the side. They come in a set of ten and can be altered to include your initials.View Deal

Papier Water Lilies Hardcover Notebook $30 $26 | Papier

This striking notebook is part of Papier's partnership with the Met, and is based on the designs of the illustrator Margaret Neilson Armstrong. Its water lilies also recall the famous paintings by Claude Monet.View Deal

editor's pick

Papier Evergreen Mid-Year Planner $32 $27 | Papier

Sometimes it takes until the middle of the year for you to get on your planning grind—and that's perfectly okay. This planner starts mid-year, covering July 2023 through July 2024, and includes monthly overviews, to do lists, planning pages, and more.View Deal

Papier Once Upon a Time Mid-Year Planner $27 $32 | Papier

Yet another mid-year planner for all your post-June ideas, this charming option's cover takes inspiration from the stuff of fairytales in a charming blue and white, porcelain-like pattern.View Deal

editor's pick

Papier Joy Notebook & Notecard Set $69 $59 | Papier

I have this notebook and notecard set, and I absolutely love it. The book's chic, minimalist design lends itself to being your next catch-all pad for to do lists, grocery lists, and journaling, while the notecard set is versatile enough for any and every stationary need.View Deal

Papier Wild Arrangement Hardcover Notebook $30 $26 | Papier

I don't know about you, but I find it way easier to develop a journaling habit when I have a chic, appealing notebook to write in. This piece certainly fits the bill, with its colorful, watercolor flowers and gracefully winding stems.View Deal

Papier Hanging Fruits Recipe Journal $35 $30 | Papier

When I started cooking, I found that some of my favorite meals didn't quite follow the recipe to the letter, leading me to jot down countless notes amending the original instructions (i.e., calling for extra garlic, or less salt, or a dash of lemon). This recipe book relieves the need for me to scour my notes app, looking for the right note, and keeps all of my favorite recipes in one place. View Deal

editor's pick

Papier Quintet Fineliners $18 $15 | Papier

My writing and journaling experiences are always improved when my writing utensils are fun and functional. This lightweight fineliners utilize water-based ink for a smooth, even finish, making them perfect for both art and jotting down notes.View Deal

Joy List Notepads $18 $15 | Papier

I love these notepads for list-making and staying organized in general. Like many of Papier's products, you can customize this set with your name or initials.View Deal

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https://www.marieclaire.com/home/papier-memorial-day-sale/ bi8fHUv9fThEr3KW49Ryyc Sat, 27 May 2023 17:38:24 +0000
<![CDATA[ Power Pick: CASETiFY Phone Case ]]> Welcome to Power Picks, a monthly series on the things that help us navigate our lives, step into our personal power, or simply get us through our day-to-day. Our hope is that by sharing what makes us feel great, we can help you feel great, too. 


I like to take care of my belongings. I polish my shoes, store my beauty products in cool, dry spaces, lovingly smooth out the creased pages of my used books, and read the instructions on my clothing tags so I don't ruin them in the wash. But when it comes to the care and keeping of possessions, I have one major Achilles heel: My phone. 

One would think that I'd be more mindful about this item—always the most expensive thing in my bag; something I had to take out a payment plan for, which rivaled the plan I'd had for my student loans. Like most young adults, I love my phone and don't know what I'd do without it, and yet I always manage to drop it, spill water on it, and otherwise abuse it as though I were trying for its demise. I swing my arms when I walk, and, more than once, my forearm has collided with passerby or with an inanimate object, sending my phone flying out of my hand. And, of course, it always lands flat on the concrete, screen-side down, with a recognizable thwack that leaves everybody within earshot wincing in judgment or sympathy (or both).

The last time I broke my phone was the worst. The image became distorted, with blurry white lines running from the top of the screen to the bottom, culminating in a thick green line that ran right down the middle. When I visited the Verizon store to buy a new one, the salesperson gawked at the damage, marveling, "I've never seen anything like this before." He called his coworker over to take a look, and the latter agreed, saying, "I didn't even know this could happen."

My mom, frustrated by my chaos, has always insisted that I buy a sturdy, waterproof, shock-proof case—one that would encase my phone in what seemed like half an inch of plastic, metal, and rubber that would ensure its survival in just about any situation. But every time I've opted for one of these cases, I've felt silly. These cases always seemed to nearly double the size of my phone, and they always made me look like I was preparing my phone for Armageddon. They were, in short, not remotely chic. Meanwhile, the cases I did like—always thinner, more design-focused, and less industrial—never did much to protect my phone from damage of any sort, and fell apart within months.

Then, I discovered CASETiFY. The brand hinges itself on self-expression, with cases incorporating just about any and every pattern and color you can think of—along with countless that you'd never expect. They also partner with buzzy artists like Anne Marie Coolick and Marta Olga Klara and classic ones like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, as well as the artists behind popular online design accounts like Constant Bagel Therapy and Sleepy Daze. And that's not all—CASETiFY also boasts a litany of high-profile partnerships with iconic brands like Disney, The Office, the NBA, and Nickelodeon.

My personal favorites, though, are the partnerships with museums like the Met, the National Museum of Korea, and the Louvre. I absolutely love art and spend much of my free time drawing, painting, and seeking inspiration from other artists, and having my phone case represent this interest sparks joy for me throughout the day. I love glancing down during a work meeting, when I'm on the train, or when I'm rushing around town, and seeing a representation of the Vénus de Milo or of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres' Grande Odalisque on the back of my phone. The sight alone inspires me, reminds me of who I am and what I love, and injects beauty into the everyday. It's also a brilliant conversation starter.

Plus, CASETiFY's phone cases solve my greatest technological need: They protect my phone from damage. Although the cases themselves are sleek and thin, they're made from shock-resistant material that protects your phone from steep drops (including 13 feet, 21 feet, and more). Multiple models are also encased in antimicrobial coating (your phone's a germy place!). It's no wonder the brand's fans include a long list of celebrities, from Kylie Jenner to Gigi Hadid to Joe Jonas.

To top it all off? CASETiFY is committed to sustainability, constructing many of its cases from recycled material, including recycled phone cases they collect and repurpose through their RECASETiFY program.

I never guessed that I would become as passionate about a simple phone case as I am about my CASETiFY cases (yes, cases—plural). But these chic pieces boost my serotonin levels with a single look and provide enough protection to keep my phone safe. Form, thank you for finally meeting function. 

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