We popped up with Goop at their gorgeous Marin store in one of our favorite retail spaces, Jim Rosenfield’s Marin Country Mart. Truly the perfect place for our first IRL activation and needless to say, partnering with Goop is such a dream.

We forgot how fun it is to work in a store! The weekend brought us back to working in our Mom’s Peek stores as teenagers, which are some of our very favorite memories. We were able to share our product and the story of Iris, talk all weekend about our health and the importance of organic cotton undies (our favorite topics), and of course meet so many of our customers (who became new friends!).

We had the best time meeting so many of you and watching you all experience the product in real life. There is really nothing like shopping in person, and we can’t wait to find more moments to shop Iris IRL. It gave us a whole new level of excitement and energy!

The Goop Marin store is also great. They don’t just have beautiful clothes and jewelry (read below for the outfit I bought during the weekend for my bridal shower), they have the BEST selection of beauty with truly clean standards, and the women who work in the store are so kind and fun. We really didn’t want to leave! If you’re in the Bay Area, Marin Country Mart and the Goop store are a must-visit — especially on a Saturday for the farmers’ market.

Right after the Goop pop-up, Isabella flew to New York for a few exciting meetings and, of course, some inspiration and fun too. New York is still the best place for discovering new things, especially as spring is (finally!!) starting to come out. The stores were all receiving new collections, which felt fresh and exciting. The weather was brisk but enjoyable, and as always, the food was amazing.

We had a few amazing meals we can’t stop thinking about — Bridges in Chinatown was so special (and such a beautiful space!), Il Cantinori never disappoints and is a classic for good reason (we dream of every single pasta), The Commerce Inn was perfectly cozy on a snowy night with old friends, and Thai Diner breakfast is fun and delicious (pro tip: while you’re waiting for a table, go across the street to GEM Home for coffee). We are manifesting a NYC pop-up since we know so many of you live there…!

There has been a lot of talk about the Year of the Horse, which officially started February 17th. Like everyone, we are looking forward to this energetic shift toward a return to truth, power, alignment, and opportunity — for us and for Iris.

We are deep in production on new shapes and new colors, as well as reorders of our sold-out products (we NEED more espresso tanks ASAP!). We can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to!

Now that you have an Iris update, Isabella shares her favorite things of the month!

Isabella’s February Favorites

To wear:

I am in full bridal mode with all of my wedding events coming up this year! It’s so fun to shop for beautiful bridal things, but honestly it’s been hard finding pieces that I truly love that feel like me! When we were working at the Goop store, I was so happy to find a perfect outfit for my bridal shower, this Gwyn satin bra top and skirt. They also make a gorgeous matching coat which is too warm for my shower location, but amazing nonetheless! I also just got this amazing white 100% organic cotton Sezane x Sea NY skirt and the length and embroidery make it feel very bridal, even with a tee!

In classic me fashion, I bought the outfit to wear on my wedding morning a few years ago way before I was engaged (overeager or the perfect moment of opportunity?). But since I have many moments for getting ready through my wedding process, I just found this amazing rose dressing gown and matching nightie that is so cute and not so bridal that I won’t wear it again and again after the wedding. This brand Kinderbrook is new to me and very cute!

On the topic of nightgowns, my friends always ask me where I buy cotton nighties and my answer always makes them laugh — Eileen West! Even if it is a brand you associate with your Grandma (which btw makes me love it even more), they are 100% cotton, simple, sweet, a fair price point, and are especially nice for hot weather. Sometimes, I even wear mine in public when it’s the thick of summer! This and this are my favorites. Natalie will also tell you they are great when you’re pregnant!

A few other bridal things I love but haven’t pulled the trigger on: this perfect rixo dress that looks like old Vampire’s wife (miss you forever), this really cute silk top and pants, this new sea dress I tried on and loved in NY, the best bridal sandal i’ve found (that I still might buy), and the bridal bag i’m saving up for. I apologize for how expensive all of these are… the struggle of a bride who loves to shop for beautiful things is an entirely different substack topic. I also promise to share all of the things I end up wearing and loving!

If you’re a reader of this substack (or have gone on vacation with me), you know I really only wear Hunza G swim. It’s the most comfortable and flattering, and their suits last forever. I love this new one with the beading and will be buying it for my wedding weekend by the pool!

I am really bouncing around on seasons here (the reality going from LA to NY), but I wore this Doen suede jacket all week in New York. It kept me warm over a cozy sweater and looked chic day to night. Although an investment, its a timeless shape and look and I know it’s something I’ll wear forever!

To use:

MOMA Reversible Cake Stand/Chip & Dip Glass Platter: Okay I know how random this is, but I found it at the MOMA design store in Soho and bought it for Natalie as a housewarming gift. It looks like Venetian glass, the colors are perfect, it is thick and durable, and honestly I think it is a genius concept. I love it for chips and anything that includes dippage…feta dip and pita, burrata and toasts, even soft cheese! The list goes on… then you flip it over and use it as a cake stand! I love dual-use!

I love when my favorite beauty brands launch new products, and as always Crown Affair did not disappoint with their new smoothing air dry cream. It’s the best way to upgrade your air dry, reduce frizz, and define your natural texture. It has already saved me so much blow-dry time!

I’ve been consciously upgrading my sleep routine and have been loving the Canopy aroma diffuser. I use their Little Dreams Aroma kit (designed for nurseries but also great for adults lol), but have been adding other essential oils as you can use anything you like!

To read:

I read a few amazing books this month after spending a long time perusing my favorite NYC bookstore, McNally Jackson. It stays open late, and we love walking there after dinner.

I had multiple friends recommend Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden, and I devoured it in two days. Her raw recounting of her life and relationships was extremely well written, gripping, and emotional. I felt wounded by her loss, which is a telltale sign of fantastic storytelling. While my experiences have been different from hers, there are so many relatable messages of grief, humanity, and relationships. I think she wrote about pain in a really beautiful way and will no doubt inspire readers to take ownership of aspects of their lives that may feel out of control. It also opens the conversation around financial literacy and independence for women, which needs to be spoken about more openly! I hope she writes more, and I hope they make it into a movie!

I find Patti Smith fascinating, and her new memoir, Bread of Angels, is intimate and reflective, covering her childhood, her creative path, and most notably the profound loss she has experienced during an extraordinary life. I loved reading her reflections on grief, gratitude, and “unpremeditated gestures of kindness.” It will stay with me for a long time.

I was gifted Estée Lauder’s autobiography, Estée: A Success Story, for Valentine’s Day (by my cute fiancé), and wow, she was just the best. Reading her life in her own words (she published this in 1985!) and understanding the immense self-confidence and drive that were so innate to her being was both entertaining and inspiring. Truly a life well lived. She is such a legend and this book will remain an inspiring collector’s item in my home. Warning: it’s hard to find (and expensive), but worth tracking down!

Happy March! May this month bring growth, joy, and abundance!

The first month of the year! And we’re officially in the swing of things. 2026 is already moving quickly, and we’re deep into growing Iris and developing new products we can’t wait to share later this year.

This month, we announced our very first IRL trunk show with our friends at Goop. We’ll be popping up at the Goop Marin store for Valentine’s Day weekend. If you’re in the Bay Area, come say hi and shop with us on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14, from 10AM–6PM. Marin Country Mart is our favorite place, so it feels like the perfect excuse to have a little Valentine’s outing, see the full Iris core collection, spend the day around beauty, and buy yourself a treat (you deserve it).

Speaking of treats, a few of our favorite stops at the Mart (besides Goop, of course) include Souvla (we dream about the soup…and the fries), Le Marais Bistro for coffee and crepes, Hog Island for seafood stew on a chilly day, Johnny’s Donuts for gluten-free blueberry donut heaven, and shopping at Flora & Henri and the Poppy Store.

January moved fast. This month, we’re focused on settling into the year, being present, grounding ourselves, and putting energy toward all that’s ahead. There’s a lot happening in our lives: weddings, babies, building Iris. We’re moving and grooving, working towards growth while trying to stay rooted in what matters most.

As with most things in life, we don’t always know exactly where we’re headed, but we’re committed to moving with love. And in the month of love, that feels especially fitting!

This month, Natalie is sharing her favorite finds – what she’s wearing, using, and reading. 🤍

What I’m Wearing…

• Babaa cotton sweaters – All of Babaa’s cotton sweaters are thick enough to be cozy when it’s cold, but made of 100% cotton, so wearable in the spring and summer too. My favorite styles are the no22, which I have in natural and two other colors that aren’t available anymore (but I LOVE summer flame and might have to buy it…), and the no14, which is a spring and summer go-to.

• Kiltane cashmere triangle scarf – Believe it or not, our dad discovered this and gave them to all three sisters for Christmas. It’s the perfect addition to any outfit for both style and warmth. I especially love the colors Vicuna in the larger size and the Red in the smaller necktie size.

• Splits59 Raquel high-waisted flared leggings – I still have a hard time finding clean workout clothes, but these are super flattering and pregnancy-friendly once I sized up (I typically wear size XS and have been wearing S). They also come in 4 lengths, so perfect for most heights. Be sure to wear The Thong from Iris underneath for a protective layer without panty lines!

• Sleepy Doe Organic Cotton PJs – These are some of my absolute favorite PJs, especially with a growing belly. They are thick and cozy and come in the cutest prints! They make kids too, so of course Lilia and I have matching strawberry print and blue floral!

What I’m Using…

• Forgrave glass cigar tea infuser – This little device is so simple, but elevates the experience of having an evening tea. It also eliminates the need for disposable tea bags, which carry so many micro-plastics!

• Chris McMillan Hair Wand to tame baby hairs and flyaways – Winter dampness plus postpartum baby hairs make this a necessity for me pretty much every day, but it’s amazing for slick backs on any hair type.

• Sophie Pavitt Micellar Cleansing Pads – I know that any micellar water should do the trick, but there’s something about these that make my skin feel and look so much better. The beautiful packaging doesn’t hurt!

• The Wthn Face Cupping Kit is a game changer. I’ve been using it every single morning for the month of January and can feel and see such a difference – my face feels sculpted and de-puffed every day!

• Summer Fridays Baby Moon Belly Balm – We’ve mentioned this one before, but this is my favorite body product for dry winter skin, pregnant or not.

• Linen tissue box cover – My house has been full of runny noses this winter, so there are tissue boxes everywhere. I bought this thick linen tissue box cover to make the boxes look a little nicer in our house and love the elevated look. Isabella has this striped ruffled one in her bedroom!

What I’m Reading…

• Heart the Lover by Lily King – I bought this for my own stocking at Christmas (whoops) because I’ve loved all of Lily King’s books and all I can say is, wow. The story is beautiful and heartbreaking and hits very close to home in some ways, and her writing, while seemingly matter of fact, paints such a clear picture of the characters’ experiences.

That’s it for January! Wishing you a wonderful February ❤️

Wow! November and December were a whirlwind. November was all about making sure we were ready for launch — organizing our warehouse, finalizing our website, tweaking our marketing plan, and planning content. Then, on December 4, we launched Iris into the world, and it has been surreal.

Experiencing excitement around our product and brand has been incredibly special, especially after working on it and obsessing over it for over a year. It feels amazing to finally share the products we’ve been dreaming of and loving (as samples!). Now everyone can wear them every day and feel protected and pretty. We love hearing your thoughts and feedback and seeing your cute photos in Iris. We are so grateful for the support, and we’re just getting started!

As our community grows, we’re planning so much for the months ahead — new collections, colors, styles, IRL trunk shows, and more. We can’t wait for what 2026 has in store for Iris and for all of the women we hope to introduce to our 100% organic cotton pieces. It has long been our dream to create a brand and product that protects our health and hormones while making us feel pretty and cozy, and we can’t wait to keep growing, building, and evolving while sharing it with more and more women.

December was a long but exciting month. The holidays can be challenging for so many reasons, and this year they were especially hard for us. But through time spent with our family and dearest friends sharing love, beauty, and delicious meals — plus snuggles with Natalie’s baby — we were able to relax and reflect together.

We hope everyone was able to find moments of solace in the chaos and remember what matters most: LOVE and each other.

Now that you have the update on Iris (and us!), Isabella is sharing her favorite things this month — what she’s wearing, eating, using, and loving.

Isabella’s December Favorites:

As always, I’m starting with a quote I loved this month. This time from my favorite text, the beloved Tao, which continues to hold the wisdom of the world in its tiny pages.

What I’m wearing:

• Iris The Tank: At risk of complete and total self-promotion, I truly wear our tank every single day. While I of course love The Bralette, The Tank is keeping me extra cozy now that it’s a bit colder out. Whether in the house with a sweatshirt, under big cashmere sweaters as a warm layer, or out to dinner with jeans and a jacket, I really don’t know what I did before our tank.

• Lauren Manoogian Capote Coat: An oldie but goodie, I pulled my favorite oversized sweater coat back out for the Christmas holiday, and remembered why I love it so much. Lauren Manoogian is a special brand made in Peru (just like Iris!) with hand loomed alpaca. Alpaca is normally too itchy for me, but for some reason this is so soft and cozy and I am back to wearing it every day. It’s a bit of an investment, but never goes out of style and is really beautiful quality.

• Muji Pile Short Socks: I have found the best socks ever! And they’re $5. The brown and the beige are especially great — I ordered in bulk!!

• Donni Thermal Pant: Donni brought back the thermal sweatpant that I wear at least twice a week (they’re an Iris warehouse favorite when it’s too cold in there to wear The Short) and the new espresso color looks especially good with our espresso sweatshirt.

• Marina Ocampo Suede Jacket: My best friend’s sister makes the most amazing jackets and I finally got my hands on the brown suede version with fur cuffs. Marina’s jackets are truly so special and unique. Email her or check inventory on her site and you might get lucky enough to snag one…

Gifts I loved giving & getting:

• Ralph Lauren Garment-Dyed Oxford: Ralph is having a revival. I love an over-dye (especially in espresso brown, can you tell what my favorite color is right now?), and their thick oxford shirts never disappoint. I got this exact one in the color ‘nutmeg brown’ and classic fit for my fiance, and it’s soooo cute.

• Journey of Souls: This is one of the most fascinating books I have read this year, and I’ve read a lot of fascinating things!. It dives into hypnosis case studies as a way to understand our previous lives. ‘Life between lives’ therapy will blow your mind.

• Toteme Mini T Lock Clutch: Santa delivered me the perfect mini patent leather Toteme clutch and I already can’t stop wearing it. It’s the perfect size, the patent feels special, and you can wear it with anything for any occasion. I’m planning to wear it to my best friend’s wedding later this month, but have also been using it every night at the beach this week. I got the red and am in love, but the cream is perfect for a bride and the black is a classic. It’s chic and luxe but without a recognizable logo, which I love.

Other favs!!

• Roz Scalp Scrub Detox Shampoo: Roz’s new product launch is a great double cleanse exfoliating shampoo. I just tried it and love how clean it makes my scalp and hair feel! I’m planning to make it a weekly routine.

• Ballerina Farm Bone Broth Hot Cocoa: I thought this was a little weird at first glance, but can confirm it’s delicious! It tastes like their cult favorite chocolate protein, which I love. I’ve been mixing it with hot water and a splash of almond milk for an after dinner treat!

• Bamford Nighttime Bath Oil: Santa gifted me this bath oil in my stocking and it is the most luxurious product of all. I’ve been using it nightly and look forward to the smell and feel all day. Since it’s an oil, it naturally moisturizes your skin and leaves the whole room smelling amazing. It’s on sale, so I will be stocking up!

• Anya Hindmarch Bespoke Card Case: Natalie gifted us the most beautiful and thoughtful Anya card cases with an embossed handwritten note from our Mom. Anya continues to be the most whimsical, special brand and I will treasure my perfect card case forever! If you’re ever in London, visit the Anya village and please have a cappuccino for me.

Happy every holiday that you may have celebrated. We’re wishing everyone a year of love, abundance, and peace!! We are so excited for what’s next and to continue sharing with you along the way.

Here’s the rundown: the behind-the-scenes of how our Core shoot came to be and how the day played out.

The morning started how every morning should: Cuzen matcha and snuggles with Natalie’s 15-month-old daughter at home—the calm before the storm. We sprang into action and got into the studio by 9am for what was going to be a long and exciting day shooting both our campaign and e-comm. One thing about us: we work quickly and waste no time!

We’re lucky that we could assemble a dream team of people we know and love who are also extremely talented.

One of our dear friends and an insanely talented makeup artist, Gina Veltri, arrived to get our three stunning models ready to shoot. We had hot almond matchas from Blue Bottle, Olivia Dean on the speaker, and started to set up, organize our samples and props, and test the lighting. It was already one of the most fun days ever, and we had just begun…

Our sister, Gigi, and her best friend since childhood, Isabelle, were our producers and came ready with clipboards, printed versions of our schedule and shot list, and great vibes. Our wonderful friend Allegra came to capture all the BTS and social content.

Our amazing photographer, Carol, came to us through one of our models, Luma. She is the best. We immediately clicked when we met, and she understood our vision right away—a total Iris girl!

And finally, our stunning models. When we began to think about who we wanted to model our Core Collection, it became clear that we needed to represent a range of sizes, skin tones, and ages. Our goal is for everyone to feel represented and connected to the brand because it’s made for all of us! We are so lucky to have friends who are also talented models and the ultimate Iris girls, representing Iris in the most beautiful and natural way.

We couldn’t have asked for a better group!

We shot our campaign first, which is really the most fun part. We got to be creative with props and styling, and the energy was immediately at a 10. All three girls looked gorgeous together. We combined the looks to show the full Core Collection—all four of our underwear shapes, the bralette, the tank, and the lounge sets. It came to life so quickly, and we were off to the races. I think we shot 6,000 images before lunch. We were really on a roll…

We broke for touch-ups and a group lunch (Goop Kitchen, of course—a mix of salads, turmeric bone broth, and wraps, including our #1, the Montecito wrap).

E-comm was easy, beautiful, and perfect. We shot for another few hours, did all of our flat lays, and took packaging pictures (our packaging might be our favorite part of the entire collection?!).

By 6 PM, we were done. We felt so complete and accomplished, now that we could really see the Iris brand come to life and had a visual for where it’s headed and what our community would soon see of our Core Collection. We were buzzing!!!

We came home, unloaded, put on our PJs, and had (more) Goop Kitchen—this time gluten-free pizza—before SLEEP!

Now we are SO CLOSE. Our official launch of the Core Collection will be Thursday, December 4 at 10 AM PST / 1 PM EST. Just in time for stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts!

In the coming weeks, we are going to share EVERYTHING about our Core Collection—our reasons for starting Iris, our initial inspiration, how we chose our colors, why we are launching with these shapes, LINE SHEETS, all of it!

We can’t wait for another shoot day in the near future and are counting down the days until you all can WEAR IRIS SO SOON!!

Starting with an Iris update:

We kicked off the month finalizing packaging details, developing the website, and planning out our end-of-month photoshoot.

It’s been a whirlwind—finalizing brand guidelines, evolving our visual identity, navigating natural disasters that affected our production timeline (and creating solutions to keep everything on track!), and onboarding the operations partners and technology that will help bring Iris to life. It’s all happening!!

The highlight of the month was shooting our Core Collection. We’ll share lots of behind-the-scenes content over the next few weeks, but it was surreal seeing our product come to life on the most beautiful Iris girls. The whole day left us even more excited to share Iris with the world.

Now that we have our photo samples in hand, we’ve been wearing them nonstop. Let’s just say that no other undies compare and we keep getting unsolicited compliments on the lounge set in public. It’s THAT good.

By next month’s Field Notes, you’ll be able to shop Iris! Yay! In the meantime, make sure you’re signed up for our emails here for first looks and exclusive updates on our December launch.

Now that you’re up to speed, Natalie is sharing her favorite things this month: supplements, books, a makeup treat, and the CUTEST baby girl clothes. It’s dangerously easy to shop for little ones…

Natalie’s October Favorites:

This month I’ve really been focusing on things that make me feel good on the inside and out – mentally, emotionally, and physically.

I’ve been taking Armra colostrum ever since my hair started falling out postpartum, and I truly feel and see a difference – my little baby bangs are growing back faster than I could have imagined and my hair feels thick, strong, and shiny again. Reduced bloat is a nice bonus! I love packing the individual packets for traveling.

I take Natural Vitality Calm magnesium citrate (unflavored so you don’t end up with added sugar) every few nights before bed to keep my digestive system working. It works so well and leaves me feeling good – I’ll leave it at that. Again, don’t forget the travel size!

I started taking Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glyconate before bed every night while I was pregnant with Lilia and I swear it knocks me out like a sleeping pill, but without the groggy feeling or the chemicals. It calms my mind and body and allows for a deep, peaceful sleep. I’ve gotten my husband hooked on it too!

I keep a copy of Mary Oliver’s Devotions next to my bed (thanks to my friend Taylor for getting me a fresh copy!) and read a poem whenever I’m feeling called to it. Her words are so beautiful and resonate so truly that I like to sit with each poem for a day or two before reading something new.

And for something fun that makes me feel good on the outside, I picked up my favorite Saie dew blush in Violet Gray’s exclusive color, Cherie, last week when I was in LA for our Iris photoshoot and I’m obsessed. As our cousin Paloma would say, it’s perfect for a “winter kissed” look as my summer tan fades.

Admittedly, most of my clothing shopping lately has been for my small friend, Lils. Clothes just look so cute on her I can’t help myself!

I just restocked some basics that we’ve been buying her whole life. We’re big fans of bodysuits in our house, especially with a toddler who is always running and climbing and on the move – they stay in place! These Zara organic cotton tank bodysuits make the perfect top when the weather is warm or a great undershirt for layering. We buy multiple packs at once because 1) the price can’t be beat and 2) Lilia wears one every single day. We also have the colorful pointelle version and the pointelle long sleeve version.

We also LOVE Petit Bateau bodysuits, which have been another one of Lilia’s wardrobe staples since she was born. Smallable carries so many cute packs – pinks, blues, and patterns and stripes! Bonus if you love a baby in a turtleneck as much as I do!

I also have a sick obsession with baby cashmere – sue me. It’s so cozy and cute and Sausalito (where we live) is cold! I just got Lilia this Zara cashmere sweater and we love it so much I’m already contemplating a second color. Again, their quality for the price is incomparable! I also love this one for a pop of color.

We love anything from Konges Sloejd, but are especially loving this cozy sweatshirt. I buy a fun pattern each season and Lilia lives in them!

These organic cotton wide-leg jeans are like the jeans you wish you had in your closet, but made for little ones. The dark wash is adorable for fall/winter. I also ordered these embroidered jeans and these striped jeans from Spilled Milk – one of my absolute favorite baby/kid’s stores – and they’re still too big for Lilia (because she’s a tiny munchkin), but I can’t WAIT for her to wear them. Really, I wish I could have them for myself!

Finally, a few fancy baby girl things:

If I hadn’t purchased all of her holiday dresses last year or before she was even born (whoops) I would get this perfect plaid Wheat dress. It is so cute for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other winter festivities and is 100% organic cotton. And of course, Bonpoint makes the best tiny fancy dresses around, like this floral corduroy one (which I ordered forever ago) or this one in a perfect holiday Liberty print. It’s taking all my willpower not to order it!

A polished white blouse like this one from Louis Louise or this one from Caramel is also so sweet with jeans or little cords for holiday parties.

Pro top: Smallable will pay back any tariffs/duty fees if you submit your receipt to their customer support!

And to go with all her holiday looks, I just stocked up on some fresh tights! Our favorites are these from Quincey Mae and these from La Coqueta – the colors are AMAZING. We just bought fresh pairs of off white, heather grey, and pale pink.

Let us know what you’re loving this month, too! We’ll be back at the end of November with all our latest discoveries… and then it’s LAUNCH TIME! Yay!

Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom.

All our love!

It may sound funny, but similarly to how we think about Iris’ 100% organic cotton underwear, once you know why the ingredients you’re ingesting (or the materials you’re wearing) impact your health, you just can’t go back.

While Natalie does well with dairy, Isabella sometimes has a gut reaction (it’s truly personal, depending on what your body can tolerate) and feels better without it. When non-dairy milks first gained popularity, we immediately started vetting ingredients and were shocked by all the additives in the most popular brands. The gums, the syrups, the canola oil… we started thinking, if we’re going to have ingredients that don’t make us feel great, we’d honestly rather have French fries than a questionable latte!

When we’re at home, we buy MALK or Three Trees, but surprisingly, it’s pretty challenging to find clean nut milk out and about. Luckily, we’ve discovered the best spots in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Lots of exploring and testing has led us to this list!

So here it is: our guide to where to go in LA, NY, and SF for a matcha or coffee with clean nut milk. It may be niche, but it’s needed.

Since we’re always discovering new places, we’ll be sure to share more spots in other cities as we find them!

LA

Parakeet Cafe
With locations in Brentwood and Beverly Hills, they make a housemade almond milk with organic almonds, water, and maple syrup. We don’t love the food, but we do love their hot almond matchas.

Goodboybob
They make a housemade almond milk that’s creamy and not overly sweet.

Blue Bottle
Due to distribution (since they were bought by Nestlé a few years back), Blue Bottle uses Goodmylk only in their Southern California locations. Warning: you’ll be disappointed if you go in another city, where they often use Califia’s Barista Blend.

Kreation
We love buying the vanilla almond milk for at-home matchas, but you can order it in any drink at all their locations!

Milo & Olive
Since this is a restaurant, it’s a sneaky find, but they have some of the best homemade almond milk in town.

Jon & Vinny’s
Another random one (also a restaurant), but their homemade almond milk is great and their strawberry matcha is the best.

Holey Grail Donuts
This donut spot fries with coconut oil, which we love, and their coconut and cashew milk is delicious.

Cha Cha Matcha
You have to specifically ask for it because they have both options, but their homemade almond milk is so good and always convenient!

Erewhon
Obvious, but we still felt compelled to include.

Cafe Gratitude
One of the organic OGs, Gratitude makes a great 100% organic, raw almond milk.

Moon Juice
They’ve sadly closed a few locations, but you can still get their amazing drinks and milk at their Venice location.

Honey Hi
Located in Echo Park, they have the best lunch and a coconut–almond–pumpkin seed milk that tastes better than it sounds.

NY

Matchaful
Matchaful has one of our favorite matchas of all time – the Vanilla Zen. It’s a $0.75 upcharge, but they have housemade oat, almond, and coconut milks with only 2–3 ingredients.

Happier Grocery
This NY answer to Erewhon in SoHo makes their own almond and pistachio milk. Don’t tell, but we actually think the hot bar is better (especially the chicken tenders).

Birch Coffee
Birch has locations across the city and a partnership with Numilk to serve clean oat milk.

Felix Roasting Co.
We love Felix in Aspen, and they have a few NYC locations in SoHo, Midtown, and Tribeca that offer their housemade almond milk.

Cafe Integral
This spot for real coffee lovers makes their own almond, cashew, and horchata milk.

SF

Saint Frank
This is the only place we’ve found in the city that meets our standards! You’ll often find Isabella at the Menlo Park location since it’s the only spot in the valley with clean almond milk (and organic matcha!). They also have city locations in Russian Hill and near Salesforce Park.

Comment with any other favorites we should try!

Starting with an Iris update:

September was a busy month for us, with many exciting things happening as we get ready to launch Iris so soon. You heard it here first: we will be launching our core collection the first week of December! YAY!!!!

Update on the Iris Core Collection…

After almost a year of developing our core collection – perfecting every fit, detail, color (seeing new dips over and over), trims – and about a hundred DHL packages later, our core collection has gone into production (!!!), and our final photo samples are shipping this week for our photoshoot at the end of October! We have lined up the most amazing roster of talent for our first shoot, including a photographer who completely understands our brand ethos, the most gorgeous models, and a star producer (who also happens to be our little sister). We can’t wait to bring our vision to life in this shoot and share all of it with you soon.

We’re finally starting to feel a real sense of progress as we create the Iris brand, striving to be intentional about every part of the product, packaging, and business. But, of course, nothing is ever easy (which keeps things fun and interesting… right?).

One MAJOR challenge has been the creation of our gift boxes. We had a very clear vision of what they would look like, designed the specifics, and worked with an amazing artist (we can’t wait to share more about this!) to create something unique and special that really reflects who we are as a brand. Then, we found out how much these boxes were going to cost to make…eek! Between the quality we demanded and the tariffs overseas, it seemed impossible for our vision to come to life at a price that made sense for our brand – and our customer. But we’ve learned an important lesson over the past few months: there will always be roadblocks in executing our vision, but there is ALWAYS a way to make it happen. We never want to compromise and will continue to push to find a way! After calls and emails with over 25 manufacturers, numerous samples, and endless quotes, we FINALLY found an amazing manufacturer who can make our boxes at scale. We received the samples this week and they are BEAUTIFUL. We really can’t wait for you to have them! They will be perfect for holiday gifting and even double as decor – we are already using the samples in our offices and on our bookshelves.

Our warehouse is being built and our connecting office is coming together. We are being scrappy, yet very intentional about creating a space to dream, create, and build for our community. We’re going to be shamelessly sharing the whole process of creating this space (and our day-to-day building Iris!) on social, so follow @isabellaonken and @natalie_persico on Instagram and TikTok for BTS.

Now that you have the update on Iris, Isabella is sharing her favorite things this month – what she’s using at home, wearing every day, and even snacking on! Each month, we will switch off to share our favorite things of the moment.

Isabella’s September Favorites:

I’m starting with a quote I loved this week that’s inspiring me to keep going, even on the hardest days:

From Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, The Science of Being and the Art of Living (thank you to my boyfriend for sharing this sacred book with me 🤎)

“As the art of making a flower arrangement is to glorify every flower by the beauty of every other flower, so, through the art of living, every aspect of life is enriched by the glories of every other aspect.”

What I’m loving at home:

Interior designer Ken Fulk opened a beautiful showroom and store in LA with very special homewares. I popped in a few weeks ago and found the most lovely marble matchboxes. I picked out all of my favorites to have in my own home (in my green monkey bowl pictured below!) and to add to gifts over the next few months. He doesn’t sell them online, but I found them for you in a four-pack here.

Our tried-and-true Bink water bottles continue to be the cutest, cleanest, and most efficient way to make sure we’re drinking enough water throughout the day. They just came out with a new leak-proof flip cap top, which makes it so much easier to throw into your bag without worrying about leaks! They even have a perfect purple bottle called Iris.

In my kitchen, I had been using bamboo-top glass containers for the past few years but have noticed that they just don’t last as long as I want them to, as the bamboo gets worn down and impacted by washes. I finally made the investment in Caraway food storage and can confirm it’s worth it. The quality of these glass and ceramic vessels is amazing, and they are safe in the dishwasher. I got the Cream but also love the Perracotta color.

This isn’t really a home item, but it doesn’t fully feel like a snack either, so I’m including it here since I do keep them in my pantry! Agent Nateur’s new magnesium packets, holi (mag), are fantastic. I love the key lime taste, and they feel like a treat before bed. I am constantly trying to make sure I have enough magnesium, and these help my sleep and relax my body in the evening. I pair them with their other tart cherry supplement with spermidine and taurine, calm (beauty), for my nightly ritual either in the bath or once I climb into bed. They make the perfect sweet treat with a healthy impact, and I feel the calming impacts almost immediately.

What I’m wearing:

Donni is our favorite brand for everyday pieces that are extremely comfortable and chic enough to wear out and about. We love founder Alyssa’s Substack, rly gr8, and their new Fall stuff launching on October 7th is dangerously good. The Rib Kick Flare continues to be the best pant ever, no matter the occasion, season, or phase of life. I’m wearing a burgundy pair as I write this (with my fav striped tee), but am obsessed with the Dill and Navy too. They just made them in sweater material, which I may have to try.

I have five colors of this pant and wear them with and for everything – a ribbed tank, my favorite white tee, this Sezane button-down, this chambray and lace situation, and this shirt that looks like Bode for under $175 (most Sezane tops are made of 100% organic cotton), or the best (good price for amazing quality) cashmere sweater from COS (they’re having a 25% off sale right now), OR my favorite Gap 100% cotton sweater or organic cotton big shirt.

To take a moment for the Gap gems, this sweater is truly the perfect 100% cotton sweater and on sale right now for $63. Natalie and I both have multiple colors in both the crewneck and the v-neck and wear it over EVERYTHING. The big shirt is a staple made with 100% organic cotton – you can’t go wrong with white or black, but I just ordered this burgundy and Iris purple stripe to wear for our photoshoot (because of course I needed a new outfit for the shoot!).

The new UGG slip-on that is all over my Instagram and really does give The Row (but extra cozy) are, in fact, very cute and worth it. They are selling out fast, but they have sizes left here and here.

I’m really trying to shop less and invest this fall into my wellness rituals (and in Iris!). But, for my birthday gift to myself, I bought these perfect floral manolos that screamed Iris (on sale here and here). Even though they’re white, I will be wearing them through the fall with vintage Levis and a cozy sweater.

In terms of what I’m wearing on my face… not including Baeo blush on our clean makeup favorites list was a major oversight. It is the best non-toxic lip and cheek tint, made with completely clean and Iris-approved organic ingredients. It goes on so easily and is the perfect little swipe of color for every day, especially when you don’t feel like wearing any other makeup but want to look a little brighter. I use both colors depending on my mood, which you can try together here.

I also NEED to discuss the hair treatment that I got last week with Tania Whittier at Meche in LA. Tania has formulated her own non-toxic smoothing treatment, free of silicone and all of the gross chemicals found in keratin and even the other smoothing treatments like Paraluxe that claim to be non-toxic. She is launching the product to salons nationally later this year, but this treatment has been truly LIFE-CHANGING for me. I had wanted to get it for years at this point, and my sisters generously gifted it to me for my birthday this month. Having my hair air-dry without frizz has saved me so much time, and I am grateful for a way to feel more put together without all the toxins and chemicals! I will be sure to share more once she officially launches her brand.

What I’m eating:

My best friend, Sydney, came over last week and brought me the Flamingo Estate persimmon vinegar, and I am already ⅓ of the way finished with the bottle. It is tangy and fresh and perfect on early fall salads. I also just discovered a new all organic hot sauce, Cloud 23. The ingredients are great, it’s delicious on everything, and I love the packaging and brand story. They have two flavors, but I like the hot habanero.

My favorite at-home snacks (with approved ingredients!) have been getting me through the afternoon slump – Siete Nacho Tortilla Chips and Hu Kitchen Sour Goldenberries (seriously, the best treat without refined sugar).

Another one of my besties, Denna, brought me the most amazing dates from the Brentwood Farmers Market that I finished in about two days, which inspired me to buy the Gato Dark Chocolate Covered Dates with Pistachio Butter, and let me tell you, these are the most perfect evening treat with a Saffron Latte from The Fullest. Decadent and delicious, but healthy too.

I have been making an effort to have more protein in the morning (partially to support my new supplement routine from my functional doctor), and LOVE the Ballerina Farms protein powder. I first tried it at Happier Grocer in NY earlier this month and have been hooked ever since. The vanilla flavor tastes like a milkshake, but with great organic ingredients and 24 grams of protein per serving. The bag is also huge and lasts for a while! I make a smoothie with frozen banana, berries, and Malk almond milk, then add this right in! I’m waiting to finish my new bag of vanilla and then will try the other flavors – chocolate, strawberry, and maple cinnamon (YUM).

We are, as always, obsessed with our Cuzen matcha machines. It is one of my prized possessions (and makes a very generous wedding gift, which is top of mind since so many of my friends are getting married this year). Truly, no other matcha compares, and their organic matcha leaves are the best we’ve ever tried (and we’ve really tried it all). I have been having my afternoon matcha americano with a splash of Malk Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk now that it’s cooling down a bit in LA.

We are loving the creative process of building Iris, and we can’t wait to continue to share more along the way. Let us know if you try any of Isabella’s September faves and look out for more Iris Updates as we get closer and closer to our early December launch!

Thank you for reading all the way to the bottom!!

All our love!