If the past year has taught us anything here at CUUP, the quest for the perfect bra is by and large no different than the quest for the perfect couch. Go with us here… As foundational pieces, they both provide something soft, pleasurable, and inviting to lean into--the kind of addition that will offer any space support and ease, as much as it does style. In essence, these are two pieces that really pull the place together. And with so many of us retreating inside this past year in the wake of health, racial, and political pandemics, the connection between underpinnings and interiors has only grown stronger.
The sensorial impact we have missed from touch has instead been transferred to our surroundings. The quest for a well-appointed credenza, mid-century coffee table, or the best linen sheets is not just a distraction from *gesticulates at the status of the world* but a fixation on creating a space of serenity and self-expression that life indoors has largely stifled. Turning our home into our world, we have become much more intentional about the things we begin placing inside--and the lives lived within.
Hence, why with our new series, HOMEBODY, we are gaining a peek inside the interiors--and interior lives--of CUUP’s biggest muses. Besides design tips, you’ll learn how others are drawing the most precious things closer--from our bras, community to linens.
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Homelife may be simplified these days, but there is something to be said for the significance of the small details that comprise them. The way we curl up with a new book or try cooking a new dish in our kitchen or simply walk around our space in our underwear--it all feels bigger than before. Quieter moments of routine feel almost like meditation. For example, just watching how our latest HOMEBODY feature, Yaminah Mayo unfurls from a long day feels thoughtful and intimate. Inhabiting her space and finding peace is both cathartic and a reminder to slow down and enjoy your environment.
Speaking of, have a look around the writer’s book-filled space and learn more about how a few key purchases make her feel settled at home--and also inspire her to leave from time to time.
YAMINAH WEARS THE PLUNGE IN ESPRESSO
WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU DO IN THE MORNING?
“The first thing I do in the morning, after using the bathroom, is make a smoothie and workout or make oatmeal and read. It depends on how I feel. “
WHAT’S ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE?
“I always have water on my bedside table along with flowers, bergamot room spray, essential oils for my diffuser, Advil, and my ZZ plant.”
DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY HEIRLOOMS THAT YOU CHERISH?
“I have a bunch of my mom’s books from college and even though I have no intention to read them, I keep them because they have her transcripts and stuff in them.”
THE PLUNGE & THE HIGHWAIST IN BLUSH
FAVORITE CANDLE TO BURN?
"My favorite candle to burn is Byredo’s Burning Rose. It’s so calming and it’s one of the only candles I know that can fill the entire room with its scent. I burn it when I read at night
HAVE YOU PURCHASED ANYTHING FROM A LOCAL/SMALL BUSINESS THIS YEAR THAT YOU LOVE?
“I bought a couple of cleaning concentrates from a Black-owned business in Philadelphia called Good Vibes. The owner has this Nag Champa scented concentrate that I mop my floors with and it’s absolutely divine. I love the Sandalwood scent as well.
WHAT BOOKS MAKE UP YOUR STACK THIS MONTH?
“The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, Juneteenth by Ralph Ellison, and Emma by Jane Austen.”
YAMINAH WEARS THE PLUNGE IN ESPRESSO
WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU DO EVERY DAY/WEEK TO GET YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE?
“I listen to True crime podcasts while I go out for a walk because I get paranoid if I listen to them inside (lol). It’s a little motivator to go for a walk when I don’t feel like doing a workout.”
FAVORITE PURCHASE DURING QUARANTINE?
“I bought myself a bike! I didn’t even know how to ride a bike before this pandemic/lockdown but I was terrified of the train. It wound up being my main source of movement and adventure this past summer/autumn. That’s one thing I’m really grateful for beyond my health.”
YAMINAH WEARS THE PLUNGE AND THE HIGHWAIST IN ESPRESSO
Tags: Homebody
