27. Taeste Buddies: Emilia Petrarca
On good taste in men, cashmere underwear, and a freaky Prada bag.
Hello and welcome back to Taeste Buddies! This week features my almost name twin Emilia Petrarca, a fellow freelance writer and author of the newsletter, Shop Rat. What I love about Emilia’s writing is her wry sense of humor and ability to transform niche zeitgeisty topics into a story that I read and think “wait, I’m not the only one who feels this?!” (like this piece she penned for The Cut about the messiness of The Real Real back in 2022 or this one for the New York Times about all the Emilys out there).
She’s a born-and-raised New Yorker, and she went to Vassar, which was my dream college growing up in California and aspiring to a real east coast experience. I even owned a sweatshirt after visiting campus as a junior lol. So there’s some major cool points for her in my book! Her sense of style — rich in Prada and Miu Miu, funky accessories, and pops of red — is also joyfully distinctive. The perfect balance of trend-aware while being meticulously curated to her own vibe. Luckily for you, it can be your vibe too if you shop her closet over at Club Vintage. I hope you enjoy!
How do you define taste? What makes "good" taste?
I think about taste very literally: it’s a sense that you have, and in the same way that people are like, “I have a really good nose,” or “I’m really sensitive to touch, sound, etc.,” some people are more tuned-in to their sense of taste than others, whether it’s in relation to food, wine, or fashion.
For me, if something in my home or closet doesn’t align with my taste, I get upset. I can’t live with it!!! But I notice with other members of my family, they just don’t notice or care. I think to have “good” taste is to be tuned in to what you like, i.e. what gives you pleasure and maybe awakens all your other senses, on a high frequency.
I’m actively committed to “refining" my taste, which just means doing my homework and really thinking about what I’m attracted to and why. I want to know everything about what I like. I examine clothes/objects closely; I’m looking at all the little details. If something’s not completely right, it’s not coming home with me. But I think it’s entirely subjective what “right” or “good” taste is.
Where do you think your sense of taste comes from?
I definitely think my sense of taste is something that’s been passed down to me. My dad, who was an architect, had great taste, and instilled in me a curiosity for and commitment to beauty. My grandmothers on both sides were also extremely opinionated about clothes and objects. Idk I’m also a Taurus lol.
What’s an outfit that represents your style?
I’d like to be buried in Prada, and red and black is my favorite color combination. (It was my dad’s too.) This outfit is a good representation of how I’m also attracted to what some might consider “bad” taste, too, though. Prada is all about “jolie laide” or pretty/ugly, and playing with those contradictions.
What’s the last great thing you wore?
Every year I make a red velvet cake and throw a red velvet-themed holiday party. This year I wore cashmere underpants. I started hosting them in high school!
What was the last great thing you made?
Oof this is a good question. I’m a terrible cook. I think the thing I’m most proud of is my newsletter! It feels like something that’s entirely mine, that I’ve spent a lot of time and energy building. And it’s still evolving, which is fun. Someone I interviewed recently told me: “You’re all over the place with it!” And I was like, yeah! They clocked that I’m just following what’s interesting to me, and that’s what it’s all about.
How has your work inspired or informed your personal style?
I think it’s made me a bit of a snob… Once you touch a Loro Piana cashmere sweater it’s hard to go back.
What do you wear the most?
I got it with a discount online years ago when it first came out. I wear a lot of the color black, so I feel like it makes my outfits less serious.
As a writer and all around stylish person, how do you balance looking ahead to what's new with your current identity? When is a trend worth trying?
To me, the highest compliment is when someone sees a piece of clothing or a couch, or whatever, out in the world, and they’re like, “Oh, that’s so Emilia.” I get DMs from people who don’t know me telling me that, and I’m always like, Yes, it’s working.
Whenever I see a trendy thing, I ask myself: Is this me? And more often than not, the answer is no. I can appreciate it on other people, but it’s not for moi. It just took me a little while to figure out what “me” meant.
Outside of fashion, what is something that inspires or excites you?
I moved into my first solo apartment a few years ago, and it’s been really fun exploring what my interior design taste is. I was pretty clueless going into it, and spent about a year looking at every single couch that’s ever existed to decide what I like. There are still a few things I’m looking for. Like who am I in fork form?? TBD.
What’s most precious to you?
I wrote about my search for this freaky Prada bag and I’m in love with it. It was a big, big purchase, but I felt a sense of complete calm when I handed over my credit card. I was just like, I need this and I’m going to figure it out.
I haven’t worn it out yet, mostly because I’m waiting for the right occasion. I think it warrants a more formal setting, so I’m going to bring him to my friend’s wedding in September. It’s like bringing George Clooney as a date, or something—he’d get all the attention, so it’s not something you’d want to do all the time.
What’s something unexpected you have really good taste in?
Unfortunately, I think I have really good taste in men, which means that I’m perpetually single because very few men meet my standards. (Good taste is a blessing and a curse!!) I also think I’m pretty good at sussing out other people’s partners, but I generally keep that to myself lol.
Can you share a few recommendations that you’re excited about?
Objets d’art: I reconnected with Daniela Jacobs of Arc Objects this year (we grew up in the same neighborhood and went to many of the same schools, we just never formally met), and it’s been such a meaningful experience getting to know her better and immersing myself in her world. She’s someone who really knows what she likes, and her pieces are so thoughtfully made. I own many of them and can’t get enough!
An inspiring insta: I aspire to this level of chic, not annoying vacation post.