Pearle’s Perspective #05: Sardine Summer, One Year Later (And Yes, Martha’s Involved)

Jun 30

Dear Friends,

Around this time last year, I wrote a draft of what I called Sardine Summer—a love letter to a sardine-print dress that popped up on my TikTok feed, wedged between baby goats and English cottage renovations. The dress was cute. 100% linen. Just $40. It seemed too good to be true.

And it was.

The dress turned out to be a scam—no real site, no secure checkout, just another internet mirage. But the wild goose chase (wild sardine chase?) sparked something: a deep dive into sardines, a memory from Portugal, and the idea to relaunch my website and start this newsletter, Pearle’s Perspective.

Fast forward to June 2025: I was polishing that long-lost Sardine Summer draft, finally ready to send it out—when none other than Martha Stewart declared this the summer of sardines in a post featuring sardine-inspired decor, fashion, and art.

Martha may have beat me to the punch, but here’s the thing—I’ve been pickling this one for over a year. (ahem, even Trader Joe’s had a Sardine tote bag for sale last summer…)

So I decided to share my Sardine Summer with you anyway. Because sardines aren’t just a trend for me—they're a memory, a metaphor, a design motif, and a perfect snack.

That fake TikTok *Sardine Dress* sparked a long-forgotten memory: a trip to Portugal’s Algarve coast in my early twenties. I was sitting on a beach with new hostel friends, drinking cheap wine and watching the waves crash at sunset. Someone pulled out a tin of sardines, and I tried one for the first time. It was the most delicious thing I’d ever eaten.
Sardines were tasty, cheap, abundant, and traveled well—perfect backpacker food. I’m no longer traveling on a shoestring, but there’s no reason to quit the sardine.
In Portugal, sardines are a symbol of national pride and resilience. In old town Lagos, a centuries-old sardine made of tile still adorns a wall today.
Maybe sardines are having a moment, or maybe they always have—but ever since that dress, my feed has been swimming with them.

A few things Martha didn’t mention...

FOOD & ENTERTAINING

A stash of quality tinned fish in your pantry is a must. When motivation is low or a heat dome is rolling in, it’s your no-cook secret weapon.

Grab a crusty loaf of bread, olives, cheese, slice a peach, toss some greens together with olive oil and vinegar and you have a simple summer meal that is fit for kings. Some favorites:

**PORTHOS** – This Portuguese company out of Matosinhos has been around since 1912, so they know their way around a fish tin. Their wild-caught sardines in spicy tomato-chili sauce are a go-to snack or light lunch—rich in Omega-3s, low in calories, and always delicious.

**LIZ MCCLURE** – If I were throwing a sardine-themed dinner party, dessert would be these *sardine-shaped macarons* by baker Liz McClure. Sadly, she only delivers in the St. Louis area. (Believe me, I tried)

DESIGN

If I were adding some sardine themed decorative accessories to a client's home, here are a few choice selections. Perfect for a whimsical kitchen or beach house:

FORNASETTI – Piero, the multifaceted founder of this iconic Italian house, first introduced sardine designs in the 1950s. Their sardine tray is still available today, along with candle versions of this stylish fish. Cheeky chic.

**CANDLES BY ESME** – I collect them in every color. Last summer, she painted a sardine sample that stopped me in my tracks. I messaged her obsessively until she restocked them at Nickey Kehoe. I bought 3 pairs and they make me happy just like all of her other candles do.

FASHION

As you know, I have a thing for shoes. So yes, I searched for sardine shoes—hoping Loewe had made a kooky chic shoe with a sardine heel. I figured they’d made a shoe with a nail polish heel, why not a little fish? No sardine stilettos yet, but the Italian leather gods Bottega Veneta got the memo a few years back and produced a bag which they named “The Sardine.” The bag with its Sardine handle shape debuted in 2022 and continues to be available. Perfect in every way with three sizes to choose from.

Bottega also makes Sardine earrings, bracelets, sunglasses and belts—same vibe, slightly gentler price.

Clare V has been in the sardine game for a while—since 2016, in fact. Inspired by family trips to Île de Ré off the coast of France, she launched her “Libérez les Sardines” line (“Free the Sardines”) years ahead of the curve. My friend Nicole, who manages the Clare V store in West Hollywood, gave me the backstory and filled me in on what’s coming next.

My favorite piece? The oversized sweatshirt. It’s made in Portugal (naturally), the perfect weight for a cool summer evening, and pairs beautifully with white jeans and a glass of vinho verde. If you’re in LA, swing by the shop—Nicole will hook you up.

So many sardines. Who knew?

FUN & GAMES

Odd as it may sound, I’m grateful for that fake sardine dress. It brought back a memory from my twenties—sitting on a beach in Portugal, drinking cheap wine with hostel friends, tasting a sardine for the first time. It was salty and rich and perfect.

And it reminded me of one of my favorite places on Earth: Gordon, Wisconsin. Every summer, we’d pile into the car and drive north to a little cabin full of magic. In the evenings, all the kids would gather in front of the fieldstone fireplace—flanked by two taxidermied grouse—to play the game of Sardines.

Whispering in the moonlit dark, we’d cram into hiding spots for hours. Our parents, relieved and relaxed, would sip drinks on the porch.

Maybe a little fish won’t spark your fondest memory—but I hope reading this brings one to the surface. Something small and wonderful.

I think Martha would agree: it’s a good thing.

xoxo P + P

Maggie Morris