A Must-Have Fashion Book

From the visually striking geometric Mondrian shift dress to the groundbreaking femininely tailored pantsuit, Yves Saint Laurent: The Impossible Collection is a voyage into the mind of the French couturier. In the newest addition to Assouline’s exclusive collection of handcrafted volumes, fashion journalist and YSL expert Laurence Benaïm has curated 100 of the most iconic pieces from the designer’s 40 years of work, spanning from the first runway looks to the last before his retirement. The hefty tome—wrapped in a luxury silk clamshell case, no less—is a must-have for the staunchest fans of Saint Laurent’s oeuvre.

A New Sustainable Beverage Brand

There’s a reason Michelle Donnelly and Mark Puchala, the founders of Canadian food and beverage start-up Lark, want you to think of them as “minimalist milkmen.” Intent on doing something with their eco-anxiety, the husband and wife team started their sustainable direct-to-consumer brand with simplicity in mind. Now, they’ve launched four drinks—including responsibly sourced local spring water and a bubbly option flavoured with bluebell vine and herbs to evoke an earthy cola taste—housed in durable, recyclable glass bottles that they’ll deliver and pick up for you. (From $2.50, larkdff.com)

A Fashion and Beauty Collab

Match your makeup to your sneakers in this new collaboration from Onitsuka Tiger and Shu Uemura. Inspired by the brands’ shared Japanese heritage and history of innovation, the collection features a shoe—based on the model worn by the Japanese team at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo—along with eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks, cleansing oils and makeup tools. Vivid shades of red, orange and indigo help create an energetic look that’s Sporty Spice from head to toe. (From $33, onitsukatiger.com)

A Podcast That Gets You

We all have that one celeb—the one whose career we have followed with total devotion and, perhaps, know a little too much about. There’s no need to hide it. Writers and comedians Ayo Edebiri and Olivia Craighead see you and they respect you. On their LOL-inducing podcast, Iconography, the duo invite a guest to do a (typically hilarious) deep dive into the public persona of the star of their choosing. Catch up on old episodes (the one about Ariana Grande is our fave) before the pod returns for season two this spring.

Must-Haves For Your Home

For her line of home goods, ceramic artist Robyn Molnar works with a cheerful mood board of bright palettes and retro ’80s geometric patterns. Choose from grid-lined mugs—perfect for your morning coffee— checkerboard incense holders and terrazzo dishes to bring a touch of whimsy to your space. (From $26, nightshiftceramics.com)

A Page Turner

If you’re in need of levity (who isn’t?), look no further than comedian Nicole Byer’s new book, #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE (available on June 2). The Nailed It! host admits that the book is a pretty silly guide; it’s mostly filled with photos of her modelling different bikinis—the kind of pics that plus-size women are often called “brave” for posting. But it also comes from a sincere place: Byer’s desire to embrace being a fat woman in a culture that discourages women from being comfortable with the way they look.

Puzzles That Match Your Interiors

Piecework puzzles’ impossibly chic jigsaws came into existence kind of by accident. Burned out by work, Rachel Hochhauser and Jena Wolfe, the brand’s co-founders, booked a nature-filled weekend away—only to be forced to stay inside because of rain. Luckily they found some old puzzles stowed away and got the R&R they were looking for. They channelled their newfound obsession into four ultra-saturated puzzles worthy of your time and a permanent spot on your coffee table. (From $37, pieceworkpuzzles.com)

A Debut Novel

With her debut novel, It Is Wood, It Is Stone (out on June 30), Brazilian-American writer Gabriella Burnham claims her status as “one to watch.” The book explores themes of class, sexuality and colourism as the lives of two women—Linda, who feels adrift after moving to Brazil for her husband’s work, and Marta, a frustrated housekeeper—become entangled in surprising ways over the course of a year.

A Must-Listen Podcast

With their podcast Made In, co-hosts Jasmin Shim and Evy Kwong share stories of being Asian-Canadian. They focus their lens on topics ranging from pop-culture moments and current events – and just wrapped up a month of episodes celebrating Asian Heritage Month.

A Brand New Television Series

New HBO series, I May Destroy You, tells the story of Arabella (played by Michaela Coel), a carefree Londoner who must rebuild her life after she is drugged and sexually assaulted. The dark comedy, now streaming on Crave, is a raw exploration of consent and trauma from the perspective of a Black woman and a definite must-watch.

An Inspiring Memoir

Amrou (aka “Glamrou,” a Muslim drag queen) retraces their life experiences with brutal honesty, curiosity, and humour on a journey of self-discovery, with the reader warmly welcomed along for the ride From a god-fearing Muslim boy enraptured with their mother, to a vocal, queer drag queen estranged from their family, this is a heart-breaking and hilarious memoir about the author’s fight to be true to themself.

The Podcast You Need Right Now

CBC Podcasts’ Inappropriate Questions is back for a second season, with a whole new list of, well, inappropriate questions. Hosted by Elena Hudgins Lyle and Harvinder Wadhwa, the series explores and deconstructs the invasive questions often posed to different communities. With topics ranging from Fatphobia and grieving, to issues concerning LGBTQ and Indigenous communities, it’s an eye-opening listen.

Track Your Success

The key to success? Some will argue that it’s a reliable, meditative morning and nighttime routine. Enter Evergreen Journals‘ The Habit Journal, which takes a science-based approach to help you create lasting change, by removing willpower from the equation. This formative tool provides structured writing assignments to help you develop a routine,  reframe your mindset and work towards your personal goals. Consider this your power tool for getting back on track.

A Canadian Beverage

Meet Sapsucker, organic sparkling tree water that was born and raised in Canada. These sparkling water beverages are sustainably harvested and support local tree farmers and forest management. Every drop – and dollar – counts towards helping these local growers and producers survive.

A New Episode of The Gurls Talk Podcast

Looking for a dose of real talk? Look no further than The Gurls Talk Podcast. Host, activist and model Adwoa Aboah and different featured guests share, listen, and dive deep on relevant topics and shed light on taking control of their lives. The latest episode features none other than Janaya Future Khan, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto. The two discuss systemic racism, white privilege, and share their personal journeys as activists.

This article originally appeared in the June 2020 issue of ELLE Canada. Subscribe to ELLE Canada here or buy a digital copy of the June issue here.