Jess Graves | An ES Muse

Jess Graves | An ES Muse

 

JESS GRAVES X ESHA SONI

INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST ES MUSE
JESS GRAVES
 
 
I’m so excited to welcome Jess Graves into our growing circle of ES Muses. Jess is a writer and editor whose work has quietly shaped how women think about taste. She is the voice behind The Love List - a deeply influential newsletter that lives between personal essay and shopping guide, known for its intelligence, emotional depth, and point of view. Long before newsletters and “community” became part of the conversation, Jess built a loyal readership rooted in trust and discernment, guided by an instinct for recognizing what will matter next. She was also one of the first to feature Esha Soni in her Designer Dossiers.
A friend and a natural muse, Jess represents the woman I design for: thoughtful, intuitive, and guided by conviction.
Below, I sit down with Jess for a conversation on taste, intuition, and the objects that carry meaning.

 

IN CONVERSATION WITH JESS GRAVES

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE THE LOVE LIST? AND WHY DO YOU THINK IT RESONATES SO DEEPLY WITH YOUR READERS?
 
I wanted a space where my interests could be discussed honestly! Without apology but also without affectation and snobbery. And definitely without pretending shopping is either trivial or purely aspirational. I write as a real person making real decisions, and I trust my readers to do the same. There’s mutual respect there. I figured if I built it, they would come.

HOW DO YOUR READERS INFLUENCE WHAT YOU WRITE ABOUT - IF AT ALL?

Knowing that my readers are thoughtful and discerning holds me to my own standards. I write what I’m genuinely curious about, but they decide what resonates.

YOU WERE PART OF THE EARLY RISE OF SUBSTACK. WHAT DREW YOU TO THE PLATFORM?

Substack arrived at a moment when people were hungry for voice again, not "content" optimized for everyone, but perspective meant for someone. I kinda like to say I'm not looking for all the readers, just the right ones. I was early to it because it felt natural to me.


HOW HAS NEW YORK CITY INSPIRED YOU COMPARED TO OTHER PLACES YOU HAVE LIVED IN? DOES IT FEEL LIKE HOME NOW?

 New York has made me sharper, in good ways and not so good. I struggled to adjust after the honeymoon wore off. But now, it's hard to imagine living anywhere else. I moved here to be pushed and to be uncomfortable, it's the only way to grow and become better. I needed to prove to myself I could do it.

 

AND WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS IN NYC?

I’m a creature of habit. The Strand when I want to disappear into books. San Vicente for work and play. Via Carota for dinner that never disappoints. I like ogling the jewels at FD Gallery and cashmere at The Row. Flower shopping at Takashimaya when it was still open — and now usually the Union Square Greenmarket, which I'm spoiled to live just a few blocks from.

WHAT DO YOU VALUE THE MOST FROM BRANDS?
 
 Conviction. I’m far more interested in a brand that makes a specific choice than one that tries to appeal to everyone. Integrity of design, respect for the customer’s intelligence, and a sense of restraint go a very long way with me.

WHAT INITIALLY DREW YOU TO ESHA SONI?
 
 There was a clarity of vision that immediately stood out! I sensed a designer who knew exactly what she wanted to say.

WHAT MADE THE ZEBRA SLOPE THE PIECE YOU GRAVITATED TOWARD?
 
It feels bold without being loud. I love pieces that carry visual tension but still integrate seamlessly into real life.


 

WHICH ARTISTS OR CREATIVE VOICES CONTINUE TO INSPIRE YOU?
  
I’m drawn to artists who understand form and restraint — Brancusi, Louise Bourgeois, Agnes Martin. But I also like things that are borderline grotesque or upsetting like John Currin or Jenny Saville. My collection is built around women, both as the artist and subject. Their pain and their pleasure.

 

WHAT’S CURRENTLY ON YOUR WISHLIST FROM ESHA SONI?
 
The Poppy - hued haircalf is calling my name…

IS THERE A BOOK THAT HAS STAYED WITH YOU?

 I absolutely loved Waiting for Britney Spears.

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU’VE OWNED FOR MANY YEARS THAT YOU STILL CHERISH?

An art deco diamond dinner ring that belonged to my Gram Gram. It's funny, because she didn't like it at all, but she wore it because my Poppy gave it to her. They had a huge crystal chandelier in their formal dining room and these enormous windows draped in green velvet. We had many Thanksgivings there. The ring reminds me of that room and all the memories we made in that house with my grandparents.

IF YOU WEREN’T A WRITER, WHAT PATH DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE TAKEN?

I think I would have ended up in some adjacent world like art advising, maybe even psychology. I’m drawn to pattern recognition… and how meaning gets attached to objects.

Originally launched long before the current newsletter boom, The Love List began as a personal blog that quickly gained cultural traction and acclaim, with outlets like Barney’s New York calling it “the blog that started it all.Since its Substack relaunch in 2021, it has become one of the platform’s most influential style and culture newsletters, blending thoughtful writing with thoughtful curation.


Jess photographed above by Alex Royle


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