SIX PICKS: Lauren Dittmer Ward of Los Poblanos Farm Shop
Beneath vast New Mexico skies, a visit to Los Poblanos engages all the senses, with field-to-fork dining, rambling historical architecture, and 25 acres of iconic lavender fields. In Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the Los Poblanos Farm Shops are destinations in themselves, curated with little luxuries from fellow small batch makers. As Director of Buying & Merchandising, Lauren Dittmer Ward leads with storytelling, gathering beautiful and functional goods rich with meaning.
From 24-karat gold-kissed jewels to workaday French aprons, Lauren shared her latest bestsellers from Shoppe Object brands and makers. Scroll on to explore her picks.
What kind of products or objects are you most drawn to right now?
Having a background in visuals, I tend to inherently lean into storytelling when I’m buying. From a merchandising point of view, I’m constantly visualizing how things will layer together, so I’m first and foremost drawn, of course, to color, texture, pattern, scale, etc. That being said, it’s always the details that get me; nothing beats a beautiful, functional, timeless object.
What is the best purchase you’ve made for yourself this year?
My husband and I purchased an older adobe home a few years ago, and we’ve been slowly renovating it. We’re about to start working on our second bathroom, and we just received our second round of Zia tiles. While they're a total splurge, their handmade nature lends such a distinct point of view to a room. This time we’re going for a checkerboard of their ‘desert bloom’ and ‘brownstone’ Zellige tiles, which we’ll finish with brass fixtures.
Name an item that you can’t seem to keep in stock!
River Song jewelry, Solar Eclipse hair claws and hairbrushes, the 8-Color Crayon from Hightide, brushes, scrubbers, and enamel soap dishes from Earth & Nest; there are so many SO vendors that we have built meaningful relationships with, and their products have become essential to our narrative.
What’s your personal go to for retail therapy? Like, where do you shop to feel good?
I’m a big collector and there’s no shortage of vintage and antique shopping in New Mexico. A personal favorite is Wahoo in Santa Fe; Diane has an incredible collection of western wear, and her tiny space is so thoughtfully and lovingly curated.
In NY or LA, it’s always RRL or really any Ralph Lauren store. I’m a visual merchandiser to the core, so I have a profound appreciation for RL and their dedication to layered, textured visuals; truly, no one does it better.
Favorite Shoppe Online brand discovery?
There are so many! A few years ago, we brought Moismont into the mix, and their travel pouches complement our collection of 2 oz. lavender products so well. This year, I’m thrilled to introduce ina.seifart keychains during our summer season, as well as Oats and Rice and Bare Knitwear to our fall/winter accessories selection.
LAUREN’S PICKS
No. 1
APRON
CHARVET EDITIONS
“I love Charvet Editions, and I recently saw this apron in person and fell in love. It’s available in the perfect blue, just like the classic French work jacket.”
No. 2
CHLOE ROSE TABLE LINENS
FILLING SPACES
“Table linens from Filling Spaces have become a mainstay in our dining presentations. They are so amazing and flexible to work with, and we fully customize our napkins and placemats with ease. Their patterns bring so much narration to the table, but in such a subtle and sophisticated way.”
No. 3
SPLATTER PLATTER
PIETRA HANDMADE
“I fell hard for this serving platter when I saw it in person last month. The monochromatic blue-on-blue brings a modern touch to the splatterware tradition, and the textured rim is a special addition. There’s a matching serving bowl that’s equally as lovely, and I can just imagine the endless ways that you could style these pieces.”
No. 4
NYLON WEEKENDER
8.6.4
“8.6.4 is so endlessly cool, and their nylon bags are no exception. I personally love the Weekender style. It’s the perfect overnight/gym bag – no logos or unnecessary extras, just solid design. Handles and shoulder straps, multiple zipped pockets, and made in the USA.”
No. 5
ANTIQUE PINK CORAL NECKLACE
RIVER SONG
“There is something so uniquely special about River’s jewelry, and our customers feel it too. River Song is absolutely one of those lines that we cannot keep in stock. The attention to detail is just beyond – even down to the so sweet packaging! This coral necklace is stunning, and the perfect piece to layer with something daintier.”
No. 6
Upholstery & Bed Brush
EARTH & NEST
“As a Pomeranian mom, I was delighted to see Earth & Nest recently debut this upholstery brush. Brilliantly, they added a band of product knowledge around it, and it has been quickly selling itself since it hit our sales floor.”