What makes Elsie Green special is our people. We've got a few former corporate executives, a floral designer, a former interior designer, a vintage collector, a teacher and a high school senior. But we're all shopkeepers at heart, manning the packing table, giving our signature brand of extraordinarily personal service in the shop, traveling the French countryside looking for pretty things, and playing with the merchandise all day.
Meet our Manager of Operations & Editorial, Andie. She is a bright ray of light in the shop and our go-to gal for book recommendations and reviews. Prior to joining us at Elsie Green, Andie was living and teaching in Lyon, France. We're so glad to have her with us in the shop! Read on to learn more about Andie - we're certain that once you've reached the end of her interview you'll be just as in love with her as we are!
Favorite way to spend your free time?
This year in lockdown has really reminded me what my favorite ways to spend my free time are. I love to read, watch movies, and go for walks with a podcast when I’m hanging out at home. I love to travel, and spent this past year living in Lyon, France and traveling around Europe. When there’s more going on, I am an avid film photographer, and have a film Instagram full of photos of beautiful scenery, and my friends and family (@furbsonfilm). I love to listen to music, and much to the Elsie girls’ dismay, that means about 97% Taylor Swift. I love to go out for coffee with my friends, and when it’s possible, go to the movies at least once a week. As a teacher, I also love working with kids, and spent this past summer as a camp counselor on Martha’s Vineyard.
What are you reading right now?
The rest of the Elsie team always laughs at me because I could talk about books all day on the packing table. At the beginning of the year, I always had one audiobook and one print book going, but I’ve gotten more scattered lately and I’m reading about 6 books at once right now. Some recent favorites have been: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, Normal People by Sally Rooney, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, Know My Name by Chanel Miller, The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi, Becoming by Michelle Obama, and Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.
My all time favorites include: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, Yes Please by Amy Poehler, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (which I’m book clubbing this month with my mom and grandma), Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
However, nothing will ever beat the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. I’ve read them all about 20 times and never get tired of them. I’ve read them all at least once since the beginning of the year.
What is your all time favorite movie?
This is too hard - I have way too many! My mom taught me to appreciate beautiful art direction, so a lot of my favorite movies take place in beautiful destinations with gorgeous costume design. But I also can’t resist cheesy romantic comedies, and I’ve seen pretty much every romcom on Earth by now.
My all-time favorites include: Call Me By Your Name (absolute all-time favorite), Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, When Harry Met Sally, Notting Hill, You’ve Got Mail, Lady Bird, Booksmart, Mamma Mia 2 (I watch it with my dad at least once a week), and of course, every single Harry Potter movie.
What is your favorite TV series?
Again, too many to list here. I will never love anything as much as I love The Office, and I routinely watch reruns of old favorites like Parks & Rec, Gilmore Girls, and Friends.
Some more recent favorites include: Stranger Things, Fleabag, Normal People, and Sex Education.
Favorite travel destination you have visited?
Too many to count! Like my mom and sister said, my all time favorite trip was living for a week in Crema, Italy the summer after Call Me By Your Name came out. It was a perfect week of pasta, bike rides, and figuring out ways to make Timothee Chalamet my boyfriend.
However, there have been a lot of places that have captured my heart during my travels. Favorites that come to mind are Lisbon, Portugal (those pastries!); our two week jaunt through Australia; Santorini, Greece; Amsterdam, Netherlands (with other team members Kelsey and my dad); the Isle of Skye in Scotland; the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque; and Marrakech, Morocco with Michele and my mom.
Follow up question - what is a dream destination you would like to visit?
Next up on my list is a trip to Iceland. I had a solo trip there planned in April before the pandemic hit, so that’s definitely my next stop. I’m dying to snorkel between continental plates, swim in the hot springs, bask in the beauty of the iceberg lagoon, pet the Icelandic horses, and capture it all on my film camera.
Daily uniform?
I like to keep it simple. I always have a pair of Converse and Vejas in my closet, and I like to pair them with jeans and simple t-shirts and a great pair of sunglasses. I have an A necklace my mom got me and a star necklace that matches my sister that I never take off. My style icon has always been my mom, and I tend to dress like her. I’ve been told we’re twins.
However, I am currently wearing as many coverall jumpsuits and flowy dresses as I can get my hands on.
Are you planning to make a 2021 resolution? If so, what was it?
The last few years’ resolutions have been all about a theme. 2018 was the Year of Self Care (while I was deep in the throes of my first year teaching), 2019 was the Year of Yes, and 2020 was meant to be a continuation of the Year of Yes. However, the universe seemed to have different plans.
I haven’t decided yet what 2021 will have in store, but stay tuned. It’s going to be good.
Your go-to recipe?
This year during lockdown, I started to enjoy cooking a lot more. I perfected a spicy vodka sauce recipe that I got off Gigi Hadid’s Instagram, and it is just *chef’s kiss.* And I like it super spicy, so I throw in extra red pepper flakes. Here’s the recipe.
Favorite Elsie Green Find?
For some reason, I’m very drawn to the etched champagne coupes. Every time I see them I feel like Marianne Sheridan in Episode 8 of Normal People, drinking champagne in my villa in Italy.
Andie's Top 10 Things She Can't Live Without:
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Madewell Balloon Jeans - I am always looking for the perfect pair of jeans, and these are pretty close. I love how 80s inspired they feel.
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Beyond Yoga High-Waisted Bike Short - I have fully hopped on the bike short trend, and these are my favorite. The space-dye fabric is so soft.
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Glossier Priming Moisturizer - I have used this moisturizer for a few years now, and it’s perfect for my sensitive skin.
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Brooklinen Checkerboard Robe - I recently invested in a bathrobe, and it is a game changer. This checkerboard one is so cute and comfy.
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Block Letter Monogram Necklace - My mom gave me this necklace for Christmas a few years ago, and I’ve worn it every day since.
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Veja Leather Sneakers - All French girls wear Vejas, therefore I wear Vejas.
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Madewell Transport Camera Bag - I use this bag to carry around my film camera on my travels, and it’s perfect.
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Levi's Vintage Overalls - You can find me wearing overalls at least twice a week.
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Ray-Ban Sunglasses - These are my current favorite sunglasses.
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K. Jacques Epicure Velours Sandal - Like my mom, I invested in some French sandals and they’re the most beautiful item I own.
Follow Andie on instagram @andiefurbs or @furbsonfilm and stop by the shop to say hello.
Andie's chosen non-profit is the Martha's Vineyard Boys and Girls Club. Read about our partnership with Pledge, an organization that allows us to donate a portion of each sale to ten causes, each one chosen by one of our team members. >