The Materialist : Cassie Thorpe

Cassie Thorpe doesn’t just talk about luxury fashion—she makes you feel why it matters. In our latest episode of The Materialist, the undisputed queen of Tiny Bag Energy joins me to unpack the emotional logic behind the circus of style. Cassie is incisive, hilarious, and uncommonly generous about the things that spark obsession: Alexander McQueen blazers, vintage Chanel rings, and bags shaped like plastic pigeons (cheers to you JW Anderson).

We talk about what it means to curate a personal archive—and why her “love hand” (yes, that’s a thing) features not only her engagement ring, but also the Chanel Ultra ring her parents gave her at 18. That piece of white ceramic launched an entire aesthetic.

She also highlights three standout creators and brands everyone should know:

* Tolu Coker – London-based designer merging British tailoring and Nigerian heritage with vibrant storytelling. Her work, especially in light of this year’s Met Gala theme, is unmissable.

* Nawbar – A Lebanese jewelry house creating bold, enamel-forward designs like their stunning Atom Collection.

* Jeniece Blanchet – An ethereal designer whose sculptural beadwork looks like water droplets suspended in air. Think wearable fantasy.

Cassie also shares her favorite personal pieces from designers she loves, including:

* Susana Martins – for her signature white ceramic and gold pieces

* Unsaid – French jewelry house working exclusively with lab-grown diamonds

* Shay Jewelry – her own collab with them includes a lavender ceramic and diamond curb-link bracelet

* Monica Vinader – for everyday stackable rings

And yes, she found the McQueen piece of her dreams—a 2009 houndstooth blazer—on eBay.

Cassie’s worldview is that luxury should delight, not intimidate. Whether you’re deep in the Hermès trenches or just starting to figure out your ring stack, this is a conversation for anyone who finds joy in the details.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit atpresent.substack.com