introducing: a collection of nostalgic things

issue 1: SEASON OF THE WITCH

Shanté

and

Lauren Simpson

Oct 27, 2023

LAUREN

Costume Ideas

1960s French singer
- inspired by Françoise Hardy and Paris
- effortlessly Parisian cool, leather jacket, jeans, sunglasses
- straight hair with bangs, black eyeliner, pale lips

As a lifelong Paris enthusiast, nothing compares to ‘60s French pop. Françoise Hardy is the quintessential example of this; not only is her music wonderful but her fashion eludes the effortlessly cool vibe I try to replicate myself in my closet. Throw on classics like a leather jacket and jeans and a little liner and you too can channel the energy of a 1960s French singer.

1970s club goer
- inspired by Studio 54 and disco
- anything sparkly, especially silver and/or gold
- over-the-top everything, maximalist eye makeup and hair

I’ve been obsessed with the disco era of the ‘70s since seeing a picture of Bianca Jagger riding atop a white horse into Studio 54 (in a word: iconic). The ‘70s club scene was all about the glitz, the glamour, and maximum everything. Glitter and shimmer are the main components of disco. Add colorful eye shadow and curls in your hair for maximum 1970s club goer vibes.

Movie/TV recs

The Love Witch (2016)

A cult classic since its release in 2016, The Love Witch tells the story of Elaine, a self-proclaimed love obsessed witch trying to start again after the death of her husband. Shot on 35 mm, the film is as visually stunning as it is spooky and satirical, making it a perfect Halloween watch.

Midsommar (2019)

Okay, yes, Midsommar is set in the summer in Sweden, but what occurs in this A24 thriller is nothing short of eerie. The story follows Dani, a student recovering from family tragedy who follows her boyfriend and his friends to a midsummer festival in a small village in Sweden. Despite its idealistic summertime scenery, loads of twists and turns lie ahead.

What We Do in the Shadows (TV series)

FX Network’s What We Do in the Shadows is the story of a group of vampires living together in modern-day Staten Island. Shot in documentary-style, the viewers get a glimpse of the everyday lives of the vampires and their encounters with the outside world. The series is a hilarious watch that just so happens to be great for spooky season.

SHANTÉ

costume ideas

1980s camp counselor
- inspired by watching Friday the 13th, Part 2. i have a vintage Mickey Mouse t-shirt similar to the baby tee worn by one of the camp counselors in the movie. i realized that this would be a simple costume to do with pieces one might already have or that would be easy to thrift.
- muse: the character Terry — tight crop top with mini shorts, minimal glam (mainly mascara and blush), slicked back hair

1990s R&B sweetheart
- mainly inspired by the video for “The Boy is Mine”: soft glam, earth and jewel tones, braids (if you already have your hair braided, this is an easy one), silk pressed hair
- for clothing, think minimalist 90s: slip dresses, maxi skirts with high slits, cardigan/tank twinset, ribbed co-ords, three-quarter sleeve tops
- muses: Brandy and Monica
- if you want to do a besties costume, one of you can be Monica and the other can be Brandy. bonus points if you have a third friend who wants to fulfill the philandering heartthrob role (played by Mekhi Phifer in the video).

while i didn’t have any jam that was low enough in quantity to make my drink in the jar, i did have a large container of ginger tea with honey in my fridge from a prior H-Mart trip. usually, i would use this syrupy mix for hot drinks. however, i further read the jar’s instructions and noticed that stirring it with sparkling water was recommended to make gingerade. i also had a large bottle of sake and some LaCroix on hand; put it all together and you get the delicious drink above. use less sparkling water for a stronger drink.

APPETIZER: crispy oyster mushrooms

one of my go-to snacks. i have included a version of the air-fryer recipe i use most often at the link below, but you can also pan-fry or deep-fry this dish:

LINK: FRIED OYSTER MUSHROOM RECIPE

ENTREE: vegetarian pizza

Ingredients:

premade crust
pizza/pasta sauce
mozzarella cheese (i recommend Miyoko’s Cashew Milk Mozzarella as a dairy alternative for lactose-sensitive folks)
any veggies/toppings you like — my preferred options are sundried tomatoes, spinach, bell peppers, mushroom, banana peppers, and jalapeños

this option is so easily customizable. plus, if you buy pitas/flatbread instead of regular-sized crust, then more people can personalize their own pies. of course, this depends on the size of your party. party of one? more fun for you.

if you want to make your own dough, you can borrow from the recipe below:

LINK: Miyoko’s Phenomenally Vegan Pizza Recipe

DESSERT: peanut butter cookies

i just made a variety of these cookies this week! you can mix Halloween candy into the batter at your leisure. or skip the cookies and just eat the candy. these are two cookie recipes i’ve used before:

LINK: Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

LINK: Small-Batch PB Cookie Recipe