An upstate escape
A recap of the At Present Upstate trip
This Thursday edition of Consider Yourself Cultured is brought to you by At Present
If you would like to work with Consider Yourself Cultured, please email daniellem@brigadetalent.com
Last week, to kick off summer festivities, At Present hosted a little trip upstate for a few creators. The idea was to celebrate a few things at once: the launch of some exclusive pieces designed by Presley Oldham (earrings, a bracelet or anklet, and a necklace, all available now), the spirit of discovery, which is really a core pillar of
, and the brand’s ongoing commitment to nurturing its relationship with creators.
Let’s start with the exclusive pieces. Part of my role with At Present was to introduce them to designers I felt would complement the site’s assortment and bring something new to the audience. I first met Presley while I was still at Saks and have followed his work ever since. I love the delicate, romantic simplicity of his pieces. They remind me of a rose-tinted summer love, genuinely breathtaking. So when it came time to create these exclusive pieces, the goal was to honor his signature style while adding a fresh, seasonal twist. When Presley showed us these designs, rendered in fiery red coral and carnelian and cooled by freshwater pearls, my jaw dropped. It was perfect.
I mentioned this in yesterday’s newsletter, but it’s worth repeating: part of the idea behind these pieces was to channel the transition from June to July. Rubies are July’s birthstone, but since they weren’t an option, we wanted something that still captured that fiery spirit while calling to the ocean, which feels so fitting for this time of year.
To bring this story to life and tap into the theme of discovery, we spent an afternoon at the Henson doing a jewelry-making workshop with Presley as our creative guide. He showed us how to string stones and beads, tie knots, and figure out what we wanted to create with so many possibilities in front of us. It was such a fun reminder that discovery is at the heart of what At Present does best. It’s one thing to curate beautiful pieces, but it’s another to truly champion emerging voices and keep introducing something fresh to the audience. That spirit of continual learning and genuine curiosity is what makes At Present feel special.
And as for the creators we had the pleasure of hosting:
(aka Charlotte Groeneveld), , Blake Rayfield, Hannah Porter, and Tchesmeni Leonard, who is the fashion director of Glamour, Self, and Teen Vogue. What they all have in common, beyond being fantastic and well known in their fields, and in Tchesmeni’s case an incredible editor, is that they truly cherish the act of getting dressed and bring their own sense of discovery to how they share style. It was such a joy to see everyone dive in and create pieces that felt true to their personal style. Especially now, when so much clothing can feel interchangeable, jewelry has become one of the most meaningful ways to stand out.Talk soon!
XX
JJ