This is Window Shopping, a weekly mini-letter from Window Seat—your stylish scroll through what’s new and noteworthy in the world of travel. Each issue blends timely headlines, personal favorites, and design-forward hotels to keep your wanderlust well-fed.
If you want something from the Bowery Hotel’s new merch collab, be prepared to shell out serious cash. In its first-ever clothing collection, The Bowery Hotel teamed up with Lingua Franca on a capsule featuring embroidered knits and signature motifs like the Bowery Clock and Bowery Bear. Oh, and a robe with ears for $4,570. The cheapest thing you can get? A $200 dog sweater. Now I love The Bowery, but not five-grand-for-a-robe love…
The more we modernize travel, the less romantic it becomes. Starting October 12th, U.S. travelers entering select countries in the EU will no longer receive a physical passport stamp. Instead, digital systems that are meant to be more efficient and secure will take their place. That sounds great, but it’s still a big loss for those of us who love to romanticize the ritual of filling a passport with stories (me).
Passenger protections take two steps forward, then three steps back. Trump just withdrew the Biden-era proposal that would have required airlines to compensate travelers for delays and cancellations caused by issues within the airline’s control. I remember being genuinely excited when this rule was first introduced (I shared it here last year), but it looks like airline profits are once again taking priority over being prioritized over passenger rights.
It’s been a season of meaningful upgrades, both to my face and my space:
I’ve been loving Tracy Dubb’s brand Isla, and the Face Base Primer has been a hero product in my makeup routine all summer. Lightweight, glowy, and the kind of thing that makes you look better without looking “done.”
On the home front: if you’ve been here for a bit, you know I’ve been redoing my bedroom piece by piece, and I finally got to say goodbye to my old nightstands thanks to Thuma. They kindly gifted me their Classic Nightstands, which I’d been eyeing forever. The beveled edge on the top tray and the soft-close drawer feel so thoughtfully designed, and they’re exactly the kind of detail that makes a room feel complete. I’m one (big!) step closer to the serene bedroom of my dreams.
Casa Monti — Rome, Italy
I saw this hotel in Melissa McAlister’s newsletter this week and audibly gasped. Art-forward with intimate scale and character, I love that each of the 36 rooms (and 10 suites) features a distinct design for a sense of surprise and delight (if you’re lucky enough to get to stay more than once, that is). It’s no surprise that it was designed by Lauren Gonzales, the talent behind visual feasts like Printemps New York and one of the top hotels on my hit list, Hotel Hana in Paris. When in Rome, I will definitely be staying here, but til then I’ll be dreaming of a luxurious soak in their spa’s marble jacuzzi.
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Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.
Loooove these roundups! A hotel/coliving space to put on your radar: Mason & Fifth in London. I lived there for three months last summer and it was a DREAM. Design is 🤌🏽
Casa Monti is #1 on my hotel wish list!! They were booked out on my most recent trip to Rome, but I’m seriously considering a quick weekend trip back just to stay there. It’s SO beautiful 😩