A few weeks ago, our creative director Lindy, associate designer Nic, and perma-muse Glenna headed down to a modern cabin in Hudson for some summer lookbook shooting with a few stops along the way. Our friends at Bird were kind enough to send us some pre-fall fashion to pair with our own collection, so with Lotuff, Marni, and Dries in tow, the three headed from Rhode Island to upstate New York. Here are the highlights of their adventures, from natural wine stores to music venues, and some road trip inspiration for your summer travels. 

On the three-hour drive from the smallest state to Upstate, Six Depot was their first destination. A micro-roastery located in a renovated train station, this western Massachusetts café has an all-natural menu and serves “really good” natural wines. Upon leaving with one of Six Depot’s original blends for the mornings ahead, they continued on to their rented house, but not before making one last stop behind New England lines. The Berkshires are known for nature and the arts, and right in the middle of it all is Guido’s, an organic marketplace that’s been thriving since the 1970s—perfect for stocking up on the essentials needed following a day of driving. 

If you’ve never been to Hudson, you might expect an average rural town with a basic main street and the feeling that you’ve been somewhere like it a million times prior. Fortunately, you’d be wrong. Lindy describes Hudson as being “like a little Brooklyn… it’s so curated and so perfect.” Previously a major trading port settled by merchants from Martha’s Vineyard and Providence (hello!), it’s become wonderfully interesting over the years, and there’s always something creative happening. Ben Ratliff of The New York Times calls it a place “where taste has become serious sport”, and we couldn’t agree more. 

In Hudson, most everything happens on Warren Street, including some pretty great shopping. There’s the amazing skincare at Face Stockholm, antiques at stores like Fern and Arenskjold whose niches range from midcentury modern to modernist—Nic particularly loved the curved 1970s couches at one—and of course, more natural wine. Hudson Wine Merchants is a respected presence in the area and “a wine lover’s wine store” with carefully chosen offerings. Here’s a tip: some of their stock is hidden away in a separate room; just ask, and you shall receive (way more wine to choose from, that is… maybe even a Jacques Puffeney Arbois vintage). 

After pausing to see some art by Providence artist Dave Cole in one of the many galleries, it was dinner at Back Bar. So named because it’s found in the back of antique shop 3FortySeven, this hidden-away restaurant has a Malaysian menu, where favorites included the chimichurri skirt steak and “that salad with the crab!” The outdoor area is fantastic as well, and they noted that upon leaving, more and more people were still arriving to order buckets of beer and play outdoor games under the dusky sky.

Nehera top and pants, Bird Brooklyn

Leather Day Satchel, Lotuff Leather

Verana jumpsuit, Shaina Mote

As an interlude from the city, Lindy and Nic spent some time shooting with Glenna at the GQ-approved home in Hillsdale that Adam Rolston, its owner and designer, calls “an urban loft imported to the country.” Whether you’re gathering lookbook content or just looking for a secluded, modern retreat, it astounds at every turn and truly brings the outside in without feeling like a clichéd cabin in the woods. Between this gorgeous house overlooking the trees on all sides, new bags like the One-Piece, and myriad pieces from Bird, there were a whole lot of beautiful things in one place (and, luckily for us, some talented people to capture it all).

We can’t talk about Hudson without mentioning Basilica, the non-profit arts and performance space that plays host to concerts—its first act was Patti Smith—film screenings, and farmer’s markets. Spearheaded by Melissa Auf der Maur, former bassist of Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins, along with husband and filmmaker Tony Stone, Basilica’s diverse lineup and updated industrial atmosphere make it one of the most unique performance spaces in the country. Although there wasn’t time to enjoy a show on this particular visit, doing so should be on anyone’s bucket list. 

Another location of note was Fish & Game, an upscale-slash-rustic restaurant under the same ownership as Back Bar. Its chef was the recent recipient of a James Beard award, and this shows from the moment your dinner arrives at the table. And, as if that wasn’t enough incredible food, one more stop was made at Lick, a tiny, bright pink cupboard of an ice cream parlor. The small space belies the sheer number of flavors available here, and according to those who know from experience (in other words, our team of three), the lavender and fig sweet cream flavors are some of the best. Is there a better way to end a trip to Hudson than with locally made ice cream? Let us know, because we’re not sure.

Eat Here