As much as my ideal Sunday involves spending hours in the nail salon aimlessly thumbing through magazines, the reality is my weekends lately have hardly afforded me time for a 10-minute face mask, let alone a deluxe mani-pedi. (Surely, I’m not alone.) That’s probably why my saved tab on Instagram is suddenly brimming with minimalist nail art. The trend, as the name implies, is subtle and simple, but still gives your nails an undeniable cool factor.
Think of the look as the mani equivalent of thin, stackable rings or a dainty gold necklace: It’s a small upgrade that makes a big impact. Some of the takes on minimal nails—like rainbow, color-blocked, or gradient nails—are literally as easy as painting each nail a different color. (And, might I add, perfect if you—like me—can never decide on which shade you want to go with.) Others take a cue from jewelry and get their sparkle from tiny crystals or pearls.
“Adding small pearls, gems, or accents is very easy, and you don’t need to be very savvy with a paint brush,” says nail artist Betina Goldstein, who’s practically become the queen of minimalist nail art on Instagram for her delicate, simplistic designs. “It allows you to play with color, design, or gems without overwhelming your look or hands.”
Whether you’re planning to DIY or bring a screenshot into the salon, these 30 ideas will instantly upgrade your look without the effort. Matching rings optional.
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I’ve believed in the idea of an “investment piece” since I got my first paycheck. I would save up a month’s worth of babysitting money to buy that one top I had my eye on, that I absolutely needed and “couldn’t live without.” It doesn’t matter that I probably ended up wearing it only twice—it was satisfying to me to work toward buying something for myself, especially as someone who’s always loved fashion. Even now, as an adult, I still tend to spend in this way: I won’t shop frequently, but I will put away money with the purpose of blowing it all on one thing that feels special. It helps that, as an editor, I’m constantly learning about new brands and, over the years, have been able to identify the handful of silhouettes that are essential to me (and can feel good spending a little bit more on). It’s taken me years, but I’ve finally found a label that checks off every single one of my requirements: The designs have to be minimal and refined, that I can wear multiple times a week without getting tired of them, that are versatile enough to withstand the lifestyle of someone with a full-time fashion job and two kids.
Reader, let me tell you, Totême has changed the game for me.
This Swedish brand is a few years old (it was founded in 2014), but it’s only recently taken over the “essentials” section of my closet. What really set it apart for me, in a market that’s saturated with brands making basics, is its easy Scandinavian minimalism. Totême is the brainchild of blogger Elin Kling and husband Karl Lindman, who are both from Sweden. And you can tell how their background informs their design, from the limited, muted color palette to the tight product edit.
Magnus Andersen/Courtesy of Toteme.
The first thing I bought from Totême was a pair of black trousers. And ever since I first wore them out, people have been stopping to ask me where I got them from and where I got them tailored. That’s how well they fit. (And for the record: They didn’t need a tailor.) To be able to purchase a piece of clothing that actually fits as intended, without the intervention of a third party, is what sold me on the brand. That doesn’t usually happen for me: Usually the waist will be too loose and the pant too long, so I’ll have to have it tightened and hemmed. Not the case here.
Totême doesn’t design according to trends, so its pieces don’t go out with every passing season. Instead, your purchase is meant to live on in your closet. (As such, the pricing is not quite luxury, but not disposable: Pieces start at just under $100 and cap out at just under $1,000.) That doesn’t mean they’re not special, though: There are plenty of details, like a front slit on a pant or asymmetrical buttons on a blouse, that make them stand out from all your regular black bottoms and white button-downs. Whenever I wear something from this brand, I immediately get that feeling of Wow, this looks effortless—which, to be honest, is the ultimate and hardest-to-achieve fashion goal.
Magnus Andersen/Courtesy of Toteme.
As of this post, I own around 25 pieces from Totême. (Yes, I love the brand that much.) I’ve worn them to the office, to dinner, to my kid’s school, and on vacation. Now I’m sharing my best-kept wardrobe secret so you too can stock up on these new essentials. Find some of my favorites, below.
When you need to restock your fridge, you’ll usually just head to the grocery store. But getting new sex products like lube, toys, and condoms isn’t always so straightforward. You’re lucky if you live near a sex shop, and even if you do, some people still find the experience of going into one uncomfortable. (Though the right shop will try to make you feel as welcome as possible!) If you buy your products online, you’re often faced with the overwhelming decision of where to order condoms, lube, or toys—and which brands and sites to trust. To solve these problems, Éva Goicochea, Dina Epstein, and Maya Bodinger are launching Maude, a one-stop shop for all your sexual health needs this October.
Their first products include a 100 percent silicon vibrator called “The Buzz,” a 10-pack of natural latex “Rise” condoms, and two kinds of organic “Shine” lubricants, aloe-based and silicon. You can get each of these items on its own, or you can customize a kit to be delivered to your door.
The founders say that Maude is distinct from other online sex toy retailers in that, rather than aggregating a bunch of different brands, the company makes and sells its own products. That way, it can be meticulous about their quality. “We’re a vertically-integrated, unisex, and design-forward brand,” Goicochea told Glamour. “While retailers focus on just curating products or offering many options, we work directly with some of the world’s best factories to create our edited line of sex essentials. Then, we reimagined the experience of buying these products through a modern website that focuses both on product and friendly content. In short, we put the customer experience first.”
Beyond just making our lives easier, Maude is hoping to change how we think about sex and its role in our overall health. “The current sex industry is based on an ideology that treats sex as a novelty—or worse, a taboo,” explains Epstein. Maude wants to show that, yes, addressing your sexual needs should be fun, but it should also be taken seriously. Epstein says they take “a wellness approach that makes people feel comfortable about sex, so they can integrate it into their daily lives.”
She adds, “By changing the conversation around sex, we are encouraging people to be more open about what they want [from] their partners and [for] themselves. Maude makes beautiful, easy-to-use items that give people the chance to stop compartmentalizing their sex lives—both in their heads and in their medicine cabinets.”
Plus, Maude’s products are so pretty and minimalist that we’d be totally fine leaving them out on the nightstand.
