Capsule #3 ft. Monica Heisey

Bonjour darlings,

We’re coming to you from France! Okay technically when you read this we’ll have departed, but this issue was created with love (amour?) in Cannes. Any typos this week should be accredited to the fact we were at the same event as Rihanna on Wednesday - something they don’t teach you how to handle at school.

I’m also writing with a companion, in the form of Clodagh Griffin, my friend and colleague at TNM. Hawk-eyed readers will remember her from the ribbon inspiration of issue #2; new readers should know she’s an Irish journalist known for her excellent coverage of all things nightlife, festivals, and fun. She also happens to have killer style.

We went to Cannes Lions festival this week, and alongside pacing up and down La Croisette convincing people to sign up to this newsletter, we found time to write this week’s issue together. It’s all about summer time practicality. An ode to shorts. Real talk about dressing for heat. We hope you enjoy it.

Have a gorg weekend! Get Glastonbury on the telly!

Holly + Clodagh xx

My latest wardrobe staple is…

Jorts! AKA jean shorts. Previously seen on your dad and now spotted on every cool TikTok girlie. Ngl, I’m obsessed. They’re pretty baggy, which means they’re incredibly comfortable, airy for the sticky weather, and can be dressed up or down. Personally, I need an above the knee jort because I’m 5’4” and the below the knee ones do nothing for my legs… but I got this denim pair and I’ve already worn them five times in two week. Could be time to wash them now? - Clodagh

My new revelation comes in the form of…

Anti-chafing shorts. They need a new name! Skims did well with that. But the M&S version are so great. Super light, don’t get too hot, don’t really feel like you’re wearing anything. Way lighter than a bike short. This started as a practical endeavour but then I started to find them sort of chic? Here they are quietly peeping above my skirt and I thought, yep, okay, I’m on board. Like that trend of wearing fishnets under jeans, except you don’t feel like a Christmas ham. 🍖 - Holly 

Dying to tell you about out…

Peequal! The revelationary female urinals. If you’re going to any festivals this summer (Glastonbury, SGP, Womad) then you have to keep a look out for these. I used them for the first time at Cross The Tracks after the queue for the portaloos was about half an hour, and it was such a liberating experience! And took about 30 seconds! They are basically squat potties and I can’t believe it’s taken this long for someone to think of it. But big up Amber and Hazel at Peequal for making the leap and rolling out this amazing initiative at festivals all across the UK - we love!!! Top tip: bring a pack of tissues and hand san in your bag (though doing this at festivals anyway is always a good idea?!). - Clodagh

Name a more iconic duo than…

Citronella and deet 💅. The insect bites have really been biting lately and one of my friends said she heard you’re more appealing to flies “if you eat sweet things”. Considering I have no plans to stop having a little treat after dinner the next best option is a citronella candle to keep flies out of your home, and a deet spray to protect your skin. Not so glam but there’s nothing quite like a bunch of flies killing the good patio vibe. - Holly

This week, Monica Heisey popped into Capsule to share what’s 🔥hot🔥 and what’s not 🙅‍♀️ …

Monica Heisey is an author and television writer from Toronto. Her first novel, Really Good, Actually, is out now. Her first co-created television series, Smothered, is out this autumn on Sky and NOWTV. She lives in London.

📺 Watching: I’m at Glastonbury as we speak and will absolutely be watching the TV highlights when I return! Plus Clodagh’s been enjoying the new season of Black Mirror.

📖 Reading: If I’m honest, loads of articles about the submarine. Plus Transit, the second novel in Rachel Cusk’s trilogy. If this is new to you, start with Outline, it’s great.

🎧 Listening to: All the nice afrobeats songs that feel like summer, bottled: (‘Ice T’ by Tems, ‘Rush’ by Ayra Starr), and, after a recent euphoric drive from New York City to Cold Spring, ‘Blue Savannah’ by Erasure.

Victoria appreciates that we’ve been talking about jorts and shapewear shorts today but wants to turn our attention to their crazy younger cousin: bloomers. The image in your head is right - big frilly knickers, pantomime-like, almost comical. Max thinks we’ll see them more on TikTok than we ever do IRL, but, just as we saw with the corset, more wearable outfit pairings will emerge. Big sweatshirt, bloomers, and Crocs.

If you’d like to adopt Victoria or one of her friends, click here to learn more.

Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear how you’re finding Capsule - let me know here. See you next week 💋