Midcentury design is more than a style—it’s a feeling. A golden memory you can walk into. It evokes the hush of early morning light on warm wood, the elegance of forms that speak in curve and line, the quiet joy of objects that do their work beautifully and ask for nothing in return. Born in an era of reinvention, this aesthetic whispers of both restraint and optimism—clean edges softened by glow, tradition reimagined with a wink of modernity.
These ten finds are a gathering of that spirit: timeless, sculptural, and inviting. Whether you're building a room around a single accent or layering in detail by detail, each one adds a thread to the soulful narrative of a space that lingers in memory. Let’s begin.
This lamp is a poem of light—soft, diffused, and tender. With a glass shade reminiscent of an egg tart and a minimalist wood base, it conjures cozy cafés and quiet nights. Place it by your reading chair or let it glow in pairs on the nightstand, casting gentle warmth over the room.
These pendant lights offer a golden clarity, suspended like dewdrops midair. Their ribbed glass diffuses light like sunlight through linen, while their amber tone recalls twilight hour. Hang them above a breakfast nook or entryway to frame the space with intention.
A grounded centerpiece with flowing zebrawood grain, this table balances organic warmth and structural clarity. It invites a stack of art books, a record sleeve, a slow cup of coffee. Its low, clean lines echo the architectural restraint of the midcentury masters.
This lamp is a quiet sculpture—a linen-clad column glowing from within. Perfect for a bedside vignette or an entry console, it offers that rare blend of softness and formality, creating an atmosphere that feels thoughtful and intimate.
With its rounded silhouette and glowing cap, this mushroom lamp feels like a nostalgic dream. Equal parts whimsy and modernism, it belongs on a side table beside a chair draped in boucle, or in the corner of your writing desk where ideas begin to bloom.
This small portable lamp radiates charm. With its ribbed glass shade and warm-toned wood base, it feels like a modern heirloom. Ideal for shelves, nightstands, or tucked into unexpected corners that crave a soft, flickering invitation to stay a little longer.
Crafted in rich acacia, this end table captures the essence of utility elevated into art. Its shelf is perfect for a favorite novel or journal, while the top surface frames a candle, ceramic, or found object. A timeless companion to your sofa or bedside retreat.
These amber wine glasses feel like a toast to golden hour. Their curved shape and warm tint echo a time of martinis and record players, when setting the table was an act of ceremony. Use them for evening gatherings, or display them on open shelves where they catch the light and memory alike.
This globe lamp feels like something pulled from a 1960s studio—delicate, luminous, grounded by a sleek gold base. Its sphere casts a soft ambient light that wraps a room in calm. Try it in a reading corner or as a punctuation mark on your sideboard.
Three milky globes cascade from a slender gold stem, like glowing moons caught mid-float. This floor lamp draws the eye upward, lending soft elevation to any space it graces. A sculptural beacon in living rooms, reading nooks, or quiet corners waiting to be loved.
Going on holiday is a fun and exciting time - a time to explore new places, visit new cultures and relax in some of the most beautiful places in the world. However, when you go on holiday, you have to pack some of the best fashion in your luggage.
Fashion trends change so quickly these days that last summer’s outfits are old news by your next holiday. Some of the summer fashion must-haves this year, as seen on the 2019 catwalk, have been amazing, but they would only last for the 2019 season.
Yet there are some items that will always be fashionable and you can look stunning in them whenever you wear them, on whatever holiday.
These classic outfits are also helping us to better protect the environment. This is something that businesses across the world are encouraging. Bonds, for instance, is leading the way with their promise to reduce energy and water usage by 40% and 50% respectively.
So, if you want to make an impact on the environment and wear timeless classic pieces to look absolutely stunning, read the list below.
1. Long dresses
Whether you’re heading to a fine dining restaurant at night, or walking along a seafront, the long dress is a classic fashion statement that looks great on just about anyone. They can be used to pull on over a swimsuit after a few lengths of the hotel pool, or even be worn to visit the many religious grounds across the world.
Just be sure that you have a dress that is long, with a light and airy cut.
2. Shorts
Shorts are versatile (especially denim shorts). They can be used in combination with other clothes and accessories to create new, sensational looks that will turn heads. Shorts can also be a practical item if you plan to participate in any sports. Golf courses, beach games and even tennis are perfect activities to wear stylish sports shorts.
When fashion magazines covered their top fashion items you must wear this year, shorts were on the list.
3. Wrap dresses
Wrap dresses are perfect for all body types because of the way they complement your figure. The individual bands can be made higher, lower, narrower or wider to fit your individual shape.
In addition, these versatile items are great for any weather, and they can be easily teamed with a smart jacket or shawl in the evening, when the temperatures are cooler.
4. Jumpsuit
While most people wouldn’t expect to see a jumpsuit in a lookbook, this is an item that should definitely be on the list. When you have a well-fitting jumpsuit, you can look amazing when out and about in all sorts of weather.
Jumpsuits have made a big comeback in recent years and are even one of the most popular pieces for bloggers over at the Fashion Changers Lounge. They are surprisingly very practical and make for a great look – particularly if you are taking a cruise or expect a day of sailing.
5. Oversized sunglasses
Sometimes, bigger means better. Oversized sunglasses aren’t just for movie stars on the red carpet – you can use them to make a striking statement that immediately transforms any outfit you’re wearing. You can even mix it up, choosing different shapes and colours to match your mood. Fluorescent yellow? Check. Pastel green? Check. A more muted black? Double-check.
6. Flat shoes
One type of footwear that will never really disappear is flats. Many of the top models this year ditched their high heels and instead returned to flat footwear. These items are more comfortable while walking around, allowing you to actually enjoy a stroll down by the seafront as you walk past some of the best restaurants in Europe.
7. Short dresses
Short dresses are versatile and great for making you look stunning in the hot summer sun, anywhere in the world. They can be worn in a variety of situations; including down by the pool, exploring the local town or going out at night.
Conclusion
When you’re travelling you want to pack smart. Take as little as possible to ensure that you don’t go over baggage allowances, but also enough that you can look great whatever the occasion. That is why some of the best fashion items are versatile and will remain favourites for years to come.
When in Rome...you eat. Here are my favorite restaurants and cafes in the città eterna.
Cafe Bohemien
Cafe Bohemien isn’t just any old bar. Known for its eclectic atmosphere and cozy decor, Cafe Bohemien’s reviews consist of five stars as reviewers rave about the friendly atmosphere, great drinks, and culmination of tasteful music and casual decor.
Etabli
Quoted as being ‘better than your average Italian’, Etabli offers up a menu of pasta, sandwiches, breakfast items, drinks, and more. Perhaps even better than the food is the surrounding scenery with beautiful decor inside as well.
Bar del Fico
If size impresses you, stop into Bar del Fico for your authentic Italian experience. Menus consist of everything from breakfast and dessert and reviewers consistently mention large portions of food (especially when it comes to pasta like gnocchi or a classic spaghetti dish).
Apt
Step inside this ‘hip, retro apartment’ for cocktails guaranteed to stand up against the most upscale cocktails of New York or Los Angeles. Apt is defined as both ‘unmissable’ and the ‘definition of Italian hospitality’.
Grazia and Graziella
Don’t leave Rome without the best known pizza. Grazia and Graziella is conveniently located in the trastevere (a well-known area full of artisan shops, pubs, and budget friendly hotels). Besides being the ‘best in the trastevere’ for pizza, their menu also offers pasta and fried dishes like calamari and artichoke.
If you're anything like me, you want your personal stationery to feel well-considered and special. Business cards, specifically, are the kinds of mementos that should really stand out when the person you've met is no longer near you. Think about it: this is the one object they've kept to remember who you are and what you're about. A stunning, detailed business card can make your name memorable.
The idea of having a beautiful set of personalized business cards to introduce yourself is lovely, but I know that designing the whole thing can feel daunting. Especially if you're looking for subtle retro touches like gold foil or textured cardstock. That's what I loved most about BasicInvite when I learned about the platform a few weeks ago: they make vintage-inspired business cards incredibly easy to personalize and print.
How to Design Your Retro Business Cards
To get started, go to the retro-themed business card category on BasicInvite.com. There are over 400 designs to choose from, and you'll get a chance to customize your information once you've decided on a template that fits your visual aesthetic. I selected the landscape layout logo template and uploaded the Nostalgiosity badge using their photo upload option.
After uploading my logo, I selected "Light Coral" as the background color and "Triple Thick Matte" as the paper type.
If you're not feeling 100% confident yet, they allow you to print out a sample to make sure that the color and graphics are exactly as you want them to be. There are so many design options to choose from that I think you'll want to test out a few before you decide. Clear cards, for example, look charming against graphics or text in white ink.
BasicInvite offers a simple tool to help you design your business cards online and ship them to an address of your choice. Use this discount code before the end of March to get 15% off your cards or any other stationery item on the site: 15FF51.
This article is sponsored by BasicInvite. At Nostalgiosity, we only work with brands that resonate with our mission to celebrate little moments, timeless style, and joie de vivre.
When it comes to gifting this holiday season, try some DIY magic to make your presents feel more personal and unique. These 5 retro DIY Christmas gifts are sure to steal the spotlight in any gift exchange this season. The best part? They are as cute as they are budget-friendly.
Sharpie Flower Pots
These Sharpie Flower Pots are perfect for the green thumbs in your life. Creating these are super easy and only takes a handful of supplies, plus you can personalize them any way your holiday-wishing heart desires! All you need is a ceramic flower pot, letter stickers, and an oil-based Sharpie. The rest is up to you!
Recipe Box
This handcrafted recipe box will test your craftiness but the end result is SO worth it (plus it’s claimed to still be doable with less than $30). You’ll need some woodworking supplies like tablesaws, miter saws, a nail gun, air compressor, along with some stain and wax (full supplies list in the link). Once the box is crafted you have the freedom to stain it any way you’d like, plus you can add primitive (i.e. CUTE) personalized labels to the front of your new recipe box.
Sequin Pillows
I won’t be the first (or last) person to admit my love for throw pillows. For every occasion, there’s an adorable decor pillow to match. These DIY Holiday Sequin Pillows are no exception. Find a plain throw pillow (or pillow cover), a pen (be sure it writes on material!), a hot glue gun, and some sequin detailing (practice spelling or drawing out your new pillow design to measure the exact length needed). Lexy over at the Proper Blog mastered a gorgeous sequin Christmas tree partnered with a pink pillow spelling out ‘merry’. Get creative!
Marquee Light
This DIY Marquee Light takes the cake for retro DIY Christmas gifts. Nothing says retro like the fluorescence of neon lights. Pick out a marquee light ampersand, scrapbook or wrapping paper(because we all have plenty of leftover wrapping paper lying around!), and some glue. These lights will tie together any home office, dresser, kitchen counter, let’s face it...they’d go anywhere!
Pressed Plant Photo Frame
This DIY Pressed Plant Photo Frame is perfect for people stuck in colder climates for the winter season. Once you have your plant press you can pick out the plants for your new frames. The rest of the frame is really up to your creativity. Print photos, use scrapbook paper, add sequins, the options are endless! Finish up your frame craft by placing the pressed plants and decor in a clear glass frame. Voilà!
There’s nothing better than snuggling up with your favorite blanket, grabbing a hot drink, and finding the perfect Netflix movie to really get that Christmas feeling going. That's why I've put together this short but sweet list of the top 10 nostalgic and retro Christmas movies to watch on Netflix this holiday season. In no particular order, since I know you’ll love each one of them:
There's a pretty good chance you've seen The Grinch before, but this season calls for a repeat. If you really want to get in the mood for the Holiday season, what better way to start than by watching the most skeptical character slowly realize the wonders of Christmas?
Nobody would have ever thought of mixing Halloween with Christmas, but Tim Burton did, and oh, did it work just perfectly.
In this movie we see Jack, the king of Halloween, suddenly discovering Christmas and falling totally in love with it. Not your typical Christmas movie, but still a classic that's totally worth watching.
When this movie came out back in 2003, it made us all fall in love with the idea of falling in love during the holidays! The plot features eight different romantic stories, each one showing us a different side of what it really means to be in love.
This movie manages to be funny, touching, and extremely sweet all at the same time. It’s perfect to sit down and watch it on a cold Christmas evening.
An unmissable classic. If you haven't watched the 1954 movie, you have for sure heard the classic theme song. White Christmas is an inspiring holiday story full of music and flair.
This movie isn’t centered around Christmas itself, but it does feature Jack Frost, a unique combination of Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and Easter Bunny, and the Sandman all together in one film. Plus, it has that warm, fuzzy feeling every Christmas movie has, so it absolutely belongs in this list.
What's not to love about a movie where Huey, Dewey, and Louie ask for it to be Christmas every day, and their dream actually comes true?! After a few days of exhausting gift exchanges and pranks, they realize that family is the true gift in during the Holidays and every other season of the year.
I first started looking into natural beauty products when I realized that my skin was incredibly sensitive to certain chemical ingredients. While alcohol, parabens, lead, and dyes are all known to affect your health in various ways, my toughest enemies have always been minerals like talc and mica. They clogged my pores and dried my skin to a point where I wouldn’t feel comfortable barefaced — which is by far my favorite state. Waking up, taking a shower, and feeling ready to face anything the day throws at you, in your own skin, is an incredibly liberating sensation. I found that my skin’s natural glow was being replaced by the shiny properties of minerals like mica, which (don’t get me wrong) does add a lovely sparkle. It just wasn’t right for me.
When I look for natural beauty products, I don’t mind small amounts of chemicals as long as the core ingredients remain as close to nature as possible. In my eyes, it is not about perfection or unreal expectations of a product’s 100% natural origin: it’s about finding a balance between nontoxic ingredients and beauty enhancing properties. Because they’re often made up of extracts from fruits, leaves, and flowers, I’ve also found that natural-based beauty products not only enhance beauty momentarily, but can have lasting, positive effects on your skin. These cosmetics are not just changing how you look on the outside, but how your eyes, lips, and face are refreshed on the inside.
Put simply, I’m constantly looking for cosmetics that rely on nontoxic, clean components. There are so many benefits in naturally-occurring oils, clays, plants, and enzymes, that I’m always excited to try new brands that are raising the bar in this greener, milder space of the beauty industry. Companies are getting creative with their ingredient sources (flowers, mountains, the oceans) and are coming up with delightful ways to package their formulas — always a plus in my book. All that said, here are my favorite natural-based beauty products:
Volumizing Lip & Cheek Tint by Tata Harper: This light tint gives you just a hint of glow with a thin rosy layer that feels like your own skin. I use the “Very Popular” or “Très Populaire” shade and find it perfect for your everyday flush. It’s also super gentle on the skin, infused with sunflower seed oil, coconut, beeswax, green tea, arnica, calendula, and other natural extracts.
Hawaiian Facial Mask by Alba Botanica: This papaya enzyme mask is such a great pick me up for your pores! It’s clear, so you won’t look like Hulk wearing it around the house. You leave it on for around 5 minutes and, after a gentle tingle, it leaves your face feeling smooth and glowy.
Shampoo for Oily Hair by Dikson Natura: Unfortunately, this one is really hard to find online. It’s mostly available in specialized hair product shops and salons, but if you’re in the US you can find one near you here. I use this to control the level of oil in the top part of my hair (scalp mostly), and it completely changed the game for me. The shampoo relies on essential oils like eucalyptus and lemon, as well as the ivy leaf (which you can actually see inside the bottle) and the soapwort plant extract. It contains no artificial fragrances, colors, silicones, parabens, or petroleum derivatives.
Anti-cellulite Massage Oil by Brooklyn Botanics: I found this one after reading dozens of reviews on Amazon. I was looking for a mix of essential oils that could help tone and firm up the skin. It says anti-cellulite, but that wasn’t the main purpose for me, as I believe cellulite is perfectly normal and there’s little or nothing we can do to prevent it — at least with oils or creams. This massage oil blends grapeseed oil, eucalyptus, citrus lemon and grapefruit to tackle fat.
Gifted Amazonian Clay Mascara by Tarte: Remember when I said I wasn’t looking for 100% natural cosmetics, but rather something nature-based that wasn’t toxic? This is what I meant. Tarte’s Gifted mascara is vegan and doesn’t include parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. More than a mascara to get that false lash effect, this product is reparative: it hydrates lashes and prevents loss with components like Vitamin C, Amazonian clay, Carnauba wax, and mineral pigments.
Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract by Burt’s Bees. These soothing wipes contain aloe juice, camellia leaf extract, cucumber, citric acid, and white tea extract. They’re great for removing makeup, oil, and dirt, and I’ve found them to be extremely gentle on the eyes. They are ophthalmologist-tested, something that makes a real difference for those of us with sensitive eyes. Burt’s Bees has other towelette products infused with different extracts (pink grapefruit, cucumber & sage, and cotton), but these are the ones I’ve found work best with my skin type (normal to oily).
Matte Lip Crayons by Burt’s Bees. Natural lipstick is a complicated one for me. Before finding this one, I had tried so many different formulas without any luck: pigmentation wasn’t there, the color chipped, or the lipstick itself broke, given the lack of certain chemicals that compact the cream. This new line by Burt’s Bees is my current favorite, and it is color-rich without feeling thick on the lips. It also fades off subtly, no harsh lines or chipping to worry about. Just retouch and go. My favorite shades are Redwood Forest and Carolina Coast (pictured). They’re the perfect everyday pink with a bluish base and a wearable, not overpowering, red tone. The formula itself is super light and combines shea butter, kendi oil, and jojoba oil.
Drink of H2O Moisturizer by Tarte. This entire Rainforest of the Sea™ line by Tarte makes me feel like a mermaid. It uses the ocean’s most hydrating elements to give your face a cool moisture boost. Their Drink of H2O moisturizer, which has done wonders for my forehead lines, blends algae and marine flower extracts. Aside from these ocean-derived ingredients, the cream includes hyaluronic acid to plump up your skin — no highlighter needed 😉 I’ve actually used this product on my cheeks as a sort of highlighter a couple of times and it does the trick in a subtle, I-woke-up-like-this kind of way. My favorite.
Peppermint Essential Oil by Doterra. As you’ve read throughout this article, essential oils are present in virtually every nature-based beauty product. Some of the essential oils most often linked with beauty include lavender, rose, and lemon. Peppermint, on the other hand, is not something you’d traditionally find as a facial skin nourishment, but please bear with me. This will be good. Ever felt so stressed that your temples hurt, or you can already see that migraine coming? True beauty comes from the inside out, and it is impossible to reflect that radiance you want with a massive headache. It simply doesn’t work like that. So rub a few drops of peppermint essential oil on your temples every time routine is messing with your energy, and I promise the belle in you will come out to play.
Retractable Cruelty-Free Kabuki Brush by Ecotools. You’ll notice I haven’t mentioned any powder products, and that’s because I apply makeup mostly with my (clean!) fingers. However, every now and then, I’ll need to apply powder blush or some light bronzer and this retractable soft brush does the trick. The key? Being retractable keeps the bristles somewhat protected from dust and dirt. As a sidenote, if you’re not familiar with Ecotools, make sure to check out their cruelty-free, vegan, eco-friendly makeup applicators and bath accessories.
You’ll notice that I didn’t include any eyeshadow products, and that’s because I haven’t found a palette that strikes that nature-based/vibrant balance. My current go-to is Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Matte Tartelette, which is made without harmful ingredients such as parabens, mineral oil, and sulfates. Since it does contain mica, silica, and talc, I’m still on the lookout for an even cleaner option. For the time being, it works like a charm! My philosophy here is that the more you apply a certain kind of cosmetic (every day vs. once a week), the more you should worry about making it as harmless as possible for your skin — which is why eyeshadows, foundations, and blushes are not in my list of priorities. I don’t use them much, but if that’s not your case, take a look at these organic options for makeup in virtually every category.
I hope these milder, more natural beauty products allow you to truly freshen up next time you look at yourself in the mirror. Any recommendations of your own? I’d love to read! Leave them below.
PS: The unicorn makeup bag you see above is based on a stunning vintage illustration and is available right here.
New York attracts more tourists than anywhere else in the world. You’d be forgiven for thinking the food has a lot to do with this. It’s well known for its countless eateries — new places pop up in New York all the time. But there are times when you can’t beat tradition, and there’s nothing more fun than a retro restaurant. Here are five of the best to seek out on your travels.
Lombardi’s
New York pizza is famed around the world, so why not head to the city’s first pizza joint? Lombardi’s also happens to be the first ever pizza joint in the US and it’s true what they say — sometimes original is best.
Their pizzas are topped with San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil, then baked in a coal oven for a smoky flavor. Get carried away and choose some extra toppings, or keep it simple with a flavorsome Margherita.
Best for:Satisfying your pizza cravings
The Original Lombardi Coal Oven
Minetta Tavern
Once boasting a clientele including Ernest Hemingway, E.E.Cummings and Dylan Thomas, Minetta Tavern has since reinvented itself and was once described as a cross between a Parisian steakhouse and a traditional New York tavern. It serves simple-but-delicious dishes like roast chicken and steak frites and has been awarded one Michelin star.
Best for:A special occasion
P.J. Clarke’s
Originally opening in 1884, P.J. Clarke’s is a one-stop shop for dinner and drinks, with friendly staff welcoming everyone who comes through the doors. Take your pick from the impressive drinks menu and enjoy a bite to eat — why not sample some fresh seafood from the raw bar?
Best for:Fresh food and a well-mixed cocktail
Tick Tock Diner
The largest diner in New York, Tick Tock Diner is beloved by locals and tourists alike for its all-day breakfasts, waffles, and classic American comfort food, such as burgers and sandwiches. The portions are big, so make sure you save some room for your meal (and maybe share with your dining companions if you all want to try lots of things).
Best for:Casual dining at reasonable prices
Tick Tock, known as “The Largest Diner in New York City”
Tom’s Restaurant
Have you ever wanted to enjoy a slice of New York cheesecake in the city itself? Head to Tom’s Restaurant, where the deserts are the stuff of legend. You could also order a stack of pancakes (go for traditional American toppings like bacon and maple syrup), and don’t forget a milkshake to go with it. Well worth the sugar hit.
Bestfor: Delicious desserts
Where would you go out to eat in New York? Let me know in the comments!
I stumbled upon this stunning video summarizing a century’s worth of shoe history in 3 minutes. Take a look at how female style has evolved from covered leather shoes in neutral tones to sky-high stilettos in bold hues.
It’s fascinating to realize just how lucky we are that the designs we get to enjoy nowadays may have been frowned upon or inexistent at one point in time.Self-expression in the form of apparel has never been this exciting. We’re fortunate to live in a time when design has become so democratized that diverse creative apparel concepts can be brought to life and worn by millions at a price point they can afford.
Nothing tops perfectly crunchy toast served with your favorite topping to start the day. Whether it’s salty cream cheese or sugary chocolate spread, being able to whip up something so delicious in such little time is nothing short of magic. If you’re feeling like making magic happen in your kitchen, here’s a list of my favorite retro toasters. They don’t just toast the perfect slice, but add a touch of vintage style to any counter.
