Carly is back with the ninth installment of Carly’s Cut. You can read her last one here. If you are new here, Carly is The Stripe’s Creative Projects Manager. She has such great taste that I wanted to give her a monthly column. Think of her as our younger buddy, telling us what we should know about.
April, oh April! A month that certainly left its mark on me. The past thirty days were perfect in so many ways—perfect new additions to my wardrobe and home, perfect movies, meals, concerts, and perfect adventures. It feels hard to imagine surpassing the happiness this month brought into my life, but I know things will only get better.
I’m typing this from the floor of my soon-to-be old apartment on the final night of a chapter that’s nearly closed. I have so much to look forward to this summer, and if this past month was any indication of how good things can be, then I know I’ll soon be drowning in the riches of life.
Carly’s Cut, Vol. 9
Shopped //
April was a bit of a hodgepodge—a thirty-day-long shopping spree. I got my money’s worth out of the month, but there really was no rhyme or reason to the things I was shopping for, outside of a pure desire to have. I had scrolled past one of my favorite TikTok mutuals, Robert Gigliotti, talking about the “Get Them Theory”—a humble take on the “Let Them Theory” for those searching for a sign to spend. I followed the theory all the way to checkout at Loeffler Randall, Eckhaus Latta, and Front General Store during my 48-hour trip to the city, and carried it home with me—scoring new glassware, a new rug, and a new lamp for my apartment.
My full haul included a pair of mesh flats I’d been eyeing for over a year, a lace-trim semi-sheer blouse, a nylon-paneled skirt, a beautiful amber and silver vintage ring, and a zip-up pleated tank—each piece distinct in its own right, but easy to fold into the rhythm of my everyday style.
While this is by no means an original thought, there’s no denying that in-person shopping completely changes the experience. While I love some of the stores along King Street, most don’t speak to my taste, which often limits my understanding of fit, style, and overall brand feel. Being able to step into the Loeffler store with Jessie and their brand team felt like stepping into an alternate universe—seeing the brand from their point of view, through a lens that magnified pieces I might otherwise have overlooked. The slightly sweat-induced jaunt to find the Eckhaus Latta store in the heart of Chinatown became part of the experience itself—taking in the sights, absorbing the energy of the bustle around me.
Being able to touch fabric, try things on, and understand how they work with my body—and to interact with retail associates—always makes me more willing to invest. While I’ve been packing up my apartment, I’ve also taken a deeper dive into where I want my wardrobe to shift. Do I need better shirts? More tailored pants? Pieces that feel like finishing touches rather than statements? It’s all part of a larger process—and the magic begins in the store.
Watched //
I’m typically able to walk out of a movie theater and immediately deduce my rating of a film. I never stutter, I never second-guess, and I rarely go back to adjust my score once I’ve posted it to Letterboxd. Leaving the theater after seeing The Drama was the first time I truly felt stumped. Did I love it? Did I hate it? Did I feel challenged by the tone and overall themes of the film?
I truthfully still haven’t figured out the answers to those questions, but I ultimately reached the conclusion that the star-studded film earned a solid four stars. I sat in the car for what felt like hours after the theater, trying to decide whether it would land in my Letterboxd diary with two stars or five, before ultimately settling somewhere in the middle after taking some time to digest what I had just witnessed.
At its core, the movie is wildly uncomfortable. The “big secret” that stirs up said drama is an odd thing to discuss in real life, let alone throughout the plot of a film, and you’re left wondering whether Zendaya’s secret is actually the worst one shared. There was admittedly some dark humor sprinkled throughout that had my friends nearly wheezing with laughter, but without sharing too much, I’d recommend seeing for yourself what all the drama was about.
Saw //
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, which is typically incredibly hard for me to shake. However, in the free time I should be spending reading, I’ve instead been joyously frolicking around some new and familiar places, seeing and doing. This past month, I hopped up to the city for a solo trip (ironically during the same 48 hours Grace was there for work) and took myself to see Lily Allen perform at Radio City. I hadn’t been since 2019, and I always forget just how magical it feels—the ambiance, the intimacy, the grandeur of the old theater.
The performance itself was everything I could’ve imagined, but watching Lily Allen perform her breakup album mere months after experiencing heartbreak myself felt raw, emotional, and downright therapeutic. I sat sandwiched between two other solo attendees and found comfort in the silence as we waited with bated breath for the pop star to take the stage for the first time in seven years. Her opener was a three-piece female band that played instrumental versions of her biggest hits, including “Alfie,” “Smile,” “Not Fair,” “LDN,” and “The Fear.” Brilliant!
Each trip back to the city after moving away three years ago brings a renewed appreciation for the life I get to experience while popping in, but it makes me even more appreciative of the slowness I settle back into once I’m home in Charleston.
Saved //
Gone are the days of feeling cool for being one of the few who knew about Gohar World—and, more specifically, one of the talented sisters behind the brand, Laila Gohar (otherwise known by her social media handle, @lailacooks). Laila recently launched a partnership with Stockholm-based brand Arket, which debuted during Milan Design Week. Together, the artist and brand created their own fruits-and-vegetables rendition of Italy’s oldest carousel, which dates back to the 1700s. The activation was nothing short of brilliant, swapping standard horses for produce—beets, radishes, and more.
Having come from the experiential events world, strong brand activations always stop me in my tracks and deepen my appreciation for the nuanced productions that consistently push the envelope. While the activation ended in late April, its digital footprint will surely live on, clinging to Pinterest boards of event producers everywhere. Sadly, the collaboration cannot be shopped in the U.S., so I’ll continue poring over the photos for as long as I can.
Ate //
I battle with myself before every trip to the city. Do I want to knock a new restaurant off my must-try list, or do I want to slip back into the comfort of one of my favorites? It’s so easy to find myself back in the booth at my favorite bar or tucked into a dimly lit café table at a restaurant I know by heart whenever I make my way to Manhattan. This time, though, I made a point to try something new.
A service industry friend of mine from Charleston had recently earned a spot at the sister restaurant to Michelin-starred, James Beard Award-winning The Four Horsemen. While The Four Horsemen is decked out in accolades, I must admit that I Cavallini was one of the best meals I’ve had…ever. I embarrassingly snapped a photo of my meal mid-service, only to later realize that each plate was littered with nothing but scraps of the most complex pastas and vegetables. Their Tomato Vesper truly changed the trajectory of my life, and major kudos are owed to our server, who capped off our meal with hand-selected digestifs.
If you live in the area—or have travel booked soon—I Cavallini is a must.
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