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What I Was Afraid Of


Eric Hanson is probably best known for his pen-and-ink drawings, many of which can be found right here in Air Mail. But did you know he is equally adept at wielding an author’s pen? Hanson’s new short-story collection, What I Was Afraid Of, is a book of fears, suspicions, uncertainties, bewilderment, confusion, guilt, and unease. It’s an exploration of things that never happened, and couldn’t happen because we are safe inside, under the covers, with the doors locked. A standout is “An Introduction to Fiction,” which captures the unique indignities of being an unknown never-was in a sea of literary luminaries. ($52, tartaruspress.com) —Brendan Burford

Carry

Balenciaga


It’s Demna Gvasalia’s fault. The recent Balenciaga fall ’22 runway show was partly the reflection of Gvasalia, the brand’s creative director, on his childhood experience of fleeing war in Georgia. After watching the livestream, we want a piece of that mesmerizing collection. For now, we’ll go with the new Neo Classic City satchel, in gray, grained leather. It’s Gvasalia’s riff on the house’s cult-favorite handbag. Like all of his designs, there’s a lot going on. Oh, sure, practical touches abound—such as feel-good rolled handles and a detachable crossbody strap—but it’s the ladylike interpretation of a piece that was once an integral part of an aughts bad-girl uniform that captivates us. There’s still a subversive touch to keep things interesting. ($2,250; bergdorfgoodman.com) —Ashley Baker

Listen

Sent Away


In the past seven years, more than 20,000 troubled teens have been sent to Utah to receive care at one of the state’s licensed facilities. On a nondescript street in Cedar City, just north of Zion National Park, is Integrity House, an unassuming residence for teenage girls with behavioral issues. In the new podcast Sent Away, three reporters investigate how the facility was allowed to stay open after a patient died in its care, and after several girls alleged abuse and cruel punishments by the staff. Over seven episodes, the Taylor family—who run Integrity House and several other facilities around Utah—are put under scrutiny. With a deep dive into the criminal charges that have been brought, plus interviews with former residents and state officials, the reporters argue that the state of Utah failed to help young people in need. (podcasts.apple.com) —Jacob Robbins

Drink

Nuthatch


I haven’t had a glass of milk—be it from a cow, an almond, a seed, or an oat—since kindergarten. But the homemade nut and oat milks from Nuthatch are so good that I’ve taken swigs from the bottle after pouring it into my coffee. Started by two sisters who didn’t like the taste of, or chemicals in, most almond milks found at grocery stores and bodegas, Nuthatch delivers glass containers of fresh milk to your door (as long as that door is in New York City). They offer 10 types, from pecan to hemp to almond, all of which you can customize by adding sweetener (dates or maple syrup) and vanilla bean. They have flavored milks too, like Golden Turmeric Oat and Spicy Cacao Almond. There’s a monthly subscription service, or you can just buy as needed. For the first order, I recommend adding one more pint than you think you will drink. (Starting at $8 per pint, nuthatchlocal.com) —Jensen Davis

Wear

SZ Blockprints


Too often we’re guilty of playing the separates game—buying either the pants, top, or sweater from a set. Usually, it’s without even knowing what we’ll wear that garment with. But there’s something uniquely satisfying about procuring a proper outfit all at once, which is why this one-two punch from SZ Blockprints is such a treat. The London-based company enlists a fourth-generation block-printing studio in Jaipur, India, to make great tops, dresses, and pants. (They sell quilts too.) Our current favorites are the kicky Disco Pants and the Hartley Top. Both come in London-blue checker print and are almost too much fun when worn together. If you want to avoid looking matchy-matchy, you can get the top in a lighter shade of blue. (top, $118; pants, $158; szblockprints.com) —Ashley Baker

Sparkle

Completedworks


Before launching the jewelry brand Completedworks, in 2013, Anna Jewsbury studied math and philosophy at Oxford University. While making pearl-drop earrings might seem like a huge change from solving for a cube’s surface area, for Jewsbury the two are connected. Through both, she finds new ways of thinking about everyday objects. Committed to sustainability, her London-based company uses recycled gold and silver, plus freshwater pearls and brightly colored zirconia gemstones. Everyone from British model Adwoa Aboah to Daisy Edgar-Jones and Emma Watson have worn her pieces. The newest offering: a 13-piece bridal collection of rings, dangly earrings, and necklaces covered in pearls. The pieces will look effortless with a wedding dress, or jeans and a T-shirt. (completedworks.com) —Bridget Arsenault

Issue No. 140
March 19, 2022
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Issue No. 140
March 19, 2022