Why Jazz?
I’d never given thought to why I love jazz, I just always have. Albums like Kind of Blue, My Favorite Things and Waltz for Debbie have been in my rotation since I was 14.
My husband gave me this tome - William Claxton’s Jazz Life - for our first anniversary. I went back and read the note he left for me inside the book before Jenny shot these pictures. While he admittedly doesn’t understand jazz, he did understand that this music is woven into my value system.
Miles Davis alongside Flattered's Indigo boot. The boot is almost as badass as Davis.
Jazz is a distinctly American genre, formed by our country’s immigrant roots. It finds an opportunity for beauty in every sliver of life’s experiences. Jazz pioneers mastered the rules and had the courage to break them. These are deeply important values to me and I feel like they show up in my daily life, including how I view personal style. That’s why I feel like there’s a place for jazz and our wardrobes to overlap. It’s just another form of personal expression.
So, this year’s gift guide takes inspiration from music I love. Art and life imitate, inspire and inform each other. Thank you always to Jenny Mayfield and Lindsay Osten for the artful collaboration and all the fun.
Keep reading for the what’s and why’s on music and pretty things.
Duke Ellington + John Coltrane
Their 1963 album begins with “In a Sentimental Mood” and ends with “The Feeling of Jazz” and we should all listen to it start to finish.
Herbert Frere Soeur’s La Lulu Milau is pictured alongside a pair of Jenny Bird’s Colette hoops. Herbert is a family-owned and run brand that has been a part of our story since our beginning. The quality is amazing, it’s a value and it exudes a French style that refuses to confirm. This bag is versatile - wear it crossbody and then remove the strap to wear it as a clutch. Ideal for travel. The Colette hoops are impactful but light and comfortable. Check out most of our Jenny Bird’s jewelry here - and our HERBERT FRERE SOEUR products here.
I got a copy of Ella Fitzgerald’s Best of the Songbooks along with my first CD player when I was 12 years old. I have listened to it so much in my life, I have every word of every song memorized. I got all my advice about boys from this album. My favorite song is Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered. I think it’s appropriate that Ella sits alongside a handbag from Marian Paquette. They’re both classic and feminine, they both write their own rule book. See our collection of Marian Paquette here.
(Make your inner child your outer child)
I love the images of children in Claxton’s Jazz Life book. So much style, uninhibited by convention. Seemingly irreverent pairings are actually about putting together the things that make you smile - since everyone looks great when they smile, it’ll be a winning look.
Above we’ve paired Brazeau Tricot’s bunny collar with a big cozy sweater from Paper Label, an oversized Jenny Bird cuff and some 2 Kool sunglasses (styles by Jimmy Fairly and Krewe are both pictured).
Below a young girl photographed in New Orleans reminds us to accessorize. Following her lead of black & red, a handbag by We-Ar4, a bandana by Inoui Editions and gloves by Hestra add all the attitude an outfit needs.
“Ladies & Gentlemen, the high priestess of soul, Miss Nina Simone.”
I first heard her voice in a Bridget Fonda movie. I remember flipping through albums at local record store until I found one with “I want a Little Sugar in My Bowl” on it and I used my babysitting money to buy her “Best of” album. It’s another where I’ve memorized every single word. Her version of "Suzanne" has been my Desert Island song since the moment I heard it, and it’s what inspired the name for Tea & Oranges. We’ve pictured Meg Cohen’s Whisper Cashmere alongside Nina Simone and we have quite a collection - so soft, lots of colors, various sizes and price points.
I had a copy of a Verve Records “Jerome Kern Songbooks” - for the life of me I can’t find this compilation anywhere else in my adult life. It had Sarah Vaughn’s version of “When Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” on it and oh my god, I don’t think I’ve ever heard something that is so perfectly gritty and smooth all at once. We’ve pictured Sarah Vaughn alongside one of Janavi’s beaded stoles. These beautiful scarves pack the right amount of drama. I buy them in wool - it’s more durable than the cashmere (and just as soft) and it’s a better price point, too. The beauty isn’t compromised a bit. Here’s our collection of special scarves from Janavi.
Like probably everyone else who loves jazz, Louis Armstrong was my introduction to it. I remember hearing “What a Wonderful World” for the first time at my Oma & Opa’s house - I can’t even remember how old I was, I was so young. I remember thinking “This is jazz? Jazz is beautiful.” He opened that door for me and I’m so grateful for it. We’ve pictured Satchmo alongside a sequined top by we-Ar4.
John Coltrane & Bill Evans
Coltrane and Evans are my two favorite jazz artists. More than anyone else, I feel like myself most when I listen to their music. It’s super personal and I don’t know what to say besides that.
Bill Evans - Waltz for Debby and Sunday at the Village are my two favorite albums. We’ve pictured Evans alongside a tie-dyed wool scarf by Love Tanjane. This brand’s pieces are soft yet bold. I love this mix of qualities and I think it matches Evans’ music beautifully. You can check out all our beautiful pieces from Love Tanjane.
John Coltrane - John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman, Blue Train, Lush Life, Ellington + Coltrane, Love Supreme are favorites, but My Favorite Things hands down my favorite jazz album and my favorite jazz piece. We’ve pictured Coltrane alongside Jenny Bird’s Lennon Hoops & Supernova Ring. They’re all versatile, energetic and impactful.
Want to shop our jazz-inspired gift guide? Click here!
