Style is what brought a lot of us here. Life is what keeps us coming back.
Wardrobe Oxygen has always been about more than clothes. Since 2005, this space has been where I share what’s on my mind: the things I’m reading, thinking about, and navigating as a woman in midlife. That means perimenopause, aging parents, kids becoming adults, civic life, cultural moments worth paying attention to, and the occasional strong opinion about something that has nothing to do with fashion (though really, fashion is political…).
Every weekend you’ll find my Weekend Reads roundup: a curated mix of articles, essays, and links worth your time. And scattered throughout you’ll find longer personal essays when something is worth saying at length.
This is the less-polished corner of the site. It’s where I write like myself, think out loud, and trust that the women reading this are navigating a lot of the same terrain. Pull up a chair, I’m so glad you’re here!
Weekend Reads Who is Wes Moore, the first Black governor of Maryland? (The Guardian) Medicare for All is not enough. (The New Republic) How a viral teen app became the center of a sex trafficking hoax. (Washington Post – gift article) And for my local yokels… Bladensburg Peace Cross honoring veterans rededicated yesterday. (Patch) Female…
I know many folks in the U.S. who treat voting the way some do church. They only go to Easter and Christmas services, and they only vote when it’s to determine the next president. But this election happening this coming Tuesday is a big one, bigger than a lot of recent elections. These midterm elections…
Weekend Reads We probably shouldn’t let big companies use Kanye West’s antisemitism for clout. (Friday Things) Doctors Call for National Day of Action on Abortion November 3: ‘We Can’t Just All Get Thrown Into Jail’. (Jezebel) The Second Amendment gives no comfort to insurrectionists. (New York Times – gift article) The environment and economy are…
Weekend Reads Redfin reached out to me as a DC style expert to ask best advice for keeping a small apartment bedroom and closet organized. As someone who has lived in small apartments with small closets (and a small historic home with even smaller closets) I was happy to share my thoughts. Here’s the article:…
Weekend Reads Retirees displaced by Hurricane Ian confront a wrenching situation: At their age, remaking the lives they loved so much in Florida may not be possible. (New York Times – gift article) A high school marching band needed money. Post readers rushed to help. (Washington Post – gift article) Lizzo is here to talk…
Weekend Reads Looking for a way to celebrate Monday’s federal holiday? Consider donating to the campaign of a Native American or Indigenous woman running for office. (ActBlue) ‘A modernized, streamlined incarceration experience.’ New prison technology surveils life on both sides of the wall. (Scalawag Magazine) Why does the Midwest love orchestras so much? (Washington Post…
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Newsha Tavakolian (@newshatavakolian) Weekend Reads How to speak about what’s happening in Iran. (Muslim Girl) New York Times has a lesson plan about what is going on in Iran. It’s great for those unsure and those who may wish to educate others. (New York Times –…
This is a bit shorter of Weekend Reads because my family and I were recovering from covid. While I had it far worse last week with muscle and joint pain and extreme fatigue, I didn’t get it bad until Wednesday so I had some content at least partially ready. This week… I rested and my…
Weekend Reads This is your periodic reminder that Rebecca Minkoff is an active Scientologist. Scientology’s Secret Immigrant Workforce Exposes Decades of Exploitation. (Documented) My mother wanted me to be happy. (Oldster) Human trafficking’s newest abuse: Forcing victims into cyberscamming. (ProPublica) Billionaire no more: Patagonia founder gives away the company. (New York Times; gift link) Karen…