Weekend Reads #304
When it feels as though there is devastation everywhere and you're not sure how or where, or when to help, I always think about what things folks ALWAYS need: food and hygiene.
I have donated the past two weeks to various organizations who are helping those in need from the recent storms as well as others who are struggling. Two I consistently support and know are doing good on the ground with those who need it most are World Central Kitchen, and I Support the Girls.
If you know of a group that will benefit those hit from the recent storms that you believe needs to be highlighted, do share in the comments below. I know some of you have been terribly impacted and I send you strength and encourage you to share how to help below.
Weekend Reads
The new era of MILF visibility in film. (Dazed)
Can Gen Z make FUBU cool again? (Washington Post – gift link)
The same qualities that make placentas so valuable during pregnancy make them profoundly useful for healing burns and wounds, too. So why do we throw so many away? (New York Times – gift link)
Limited Too is growing up! The iconic '90s brand is debuting new adult sizes. (People)
Tom Sietsema reflects on 25 years of dining in DC and what it takes to be a top food critic. (NBC Washington)
Girls say prevention policies like backpack bans force them to hide tampons in their hair and shoes. (The Cut)
I saw KHOI earrings on my friend Vivi and now I am officially obsessed and want so much from this line. I am partial to these, these, these, and these.
Creativity is in its corporate sellout era. (Freak Palace)
Sally Field recalls her ‘hideous’ illegal abortion at 17 as she urges voters to back Kamala Harris. (The Guardian)
A reader wonders if it’s better to carry a small bag or a large one. Our critic explains the relationship between purse size and power. (New York Times – gift link)
I got this chambray tie-neck top in XL and I LOVE it. Late summer I wore it untucked with linen pants and Birks. Yesterday I wore it tucked into my black Madewell Harlow pants. It's so easy and has such nice design elements you hardly need to accessorize (with the Harlow pants I wore these earrings and these sneakers). Some other styling options:
- Wool or tweed trousers (brown, tan, camel, olive, etc.) with brown leather loafers
- Black leather faux-leather skirt, Mary Jane flats in your favorite color
- Dark denim high-waisted jeans and block heel ankle boots or Western boots
- Faded loose jeans and either low-profile sneakers or loafers, and a slim leopard calfhair or metallic leather belt
- Floral midi skirt and knee-high kitten heel boots
Threads knows it has an engagement bait problem. (The Verge)
Why I cut off all my hair. (Elizabeth Gilbert for Oprah Daily)
Men’s fragrances, including some dating back 30 years, are now hot among Gen Zers. (Wall Street Journal – gift link)
Shopping Inspiration
The Universal Standard Surprise Me boxes are here! Three different boxes: $68 for two items (likely a dress and top) with savings up to 65%, $98 for three bestselling items (likely a dress, top, and layering piece) with savings up to 79%, and $178 for four luxe pieces (likely a dress, a top, a bottom, and layering piece) with savings up to 87%.
These boxes are final sale, but they are available in sizes 00-40 and will be way worth the value. And with code INFS-SURPRISE-WARDROBE you get an extra 10% off! This is a fantastic way to try Universal Standard or to update your closet for the upcoming season. Shop soon, as the Surprise Me boxes are only around through October 13th or when they sell out.
To learn more about these boxes, check out my Universal Standard style club box review.
Fall and winter is the time for the “cute top with jeans.” And gosh, what kind of cute top does a grown woman wear and with what jeans? I was scrolling through LOFT's new arrivals when trying to find a link for my chambray shirt I shared above, and I saw so many cute tops. Wanted to share how I'd style them:
- Silver: with these jeans and these boots and maybe this belt. Small or no earrings, no other jewelry unless you have badass silver rings.
- Burgundy: with these jeans and this belt and these boots and these earrings.
- Blue: these jeans and these shoes and these earrings.
- Sleeveless brown: with these jeans and these boots and this belt and these earrings.
- Green: with these jeans and these shoes and this necklace.
- Black: with these jeans and this belt and these shoes.
- Cobalt blue: these jeans and these boots and these earrings.
- Ivory: with these jeans, these boots, and this bag (and this camisole).
- Brown sleeved: with these jeans, these clogs, and these earrings.
See/Hear/Read
La Maison is a series on Apple TV that I just randomly found. I didn't see any press, no social media, nothing for the show even though it is SO something I would and do enjoy. I'm glad I found it!
La Maison is in French with subtitles. It is essentially Gossip Girl, but instead of high school, it is rivaling fashion houses. Older designer is ousted from his house because he's getting stale. New designer is a young punk activist creative who has personal ties to the ousted designer. And his muse, a retired supermodel, is involved.
Ousted designer has relatives who care more for money and power than him and the fashion house. Rival house is like Chanel, run by a woman who is a bit Coco, a bit Diana Vreeland, a bit Cruella DeVil. She has some family she likes, some she is disappointed in, and she is, by the way, the wealthiest woman in France.
There are betrayal and bathtub scenes, artistic filming of handcrafting lace and architecture, and plenty of looks, both side-eye and style. And it is so dramatic that if you forget your glasses up on your nightstand and have to squint to read the subtitles, you still know what's going on. I can't confirm a single character name without researching, but I do know and am entertained by the story!
I am also making another paragraph just to have room for another scene from La Maison because the women's style is so fabulous. Simple, yet not, well accessorized, great hair and use of makeup… very fun.
For Your Entertainment
I love Maggie Rogers, and I love seeing her music develop over the years. I opened YouTube yesterday, and the first video served to me was, “Living Room,” the video for Rogers' latest single. While the video doesn't do much for me (she looks gorgeous but it feels so very tired/hipster/90s/Fiona did it better) the song is a heartwrenching breakup song that so beautiful and hits me like I first heard Jewel's “You Were Meant For Me” (90s college kids you feel me).
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As someone who’s in the business of brand strategy, I laughed at the Limited Too piece. Limited Too for grownups should logically be…The Limited! (Which was my go-to around 8th and 9th grades.) Undoubtedly, research shows there’s more nostalgic brand equity in Limited Too — and besides, The Limited is tied up as a Belk house brand anyway.
Really enjoyed the Elizabeth Gilbert story. Never once have I wanted to buzz off my hair but I’m growing out my silver and hope I love it as much. I know what she means about the puppy plush — my ex shaved his head every week or two and there was a phase where I just wanted to run my hands over that soft fuzz all the time.
The woman playing Diane Rovel in La Maison is the iconic actress, Carole Bouquet — for a long time, the face of Chanel No. 5 in the 80s into the 90s. I loved her face and used to have the torn-out Chanel No. 5 ads on my teenage bedroom walls among other fashion stuff. Also, loved her in For Your Eyes Only, the James Bond movie.
I started watching Nobody Wants This after last weekend’s Weekend Reads & am enjoying it. Thanks for the recommendation!
Related to that & today’s article about older actresses in shows with younger men, my word, women are expected to look young forever. Ugh. I can’t figure out how old any of the female characters in NWT are supposed to be, besides Joanna’s mom (because she’s allowed to have wrinkles). Thinking about all the shows I’ve watched with Nicole Kidman the last few years—also confused about what ages she’s supposed to be. I’ve seen pics of her sister & she’s beautiful and seems to look her age. That makes me think that Nicole would look great as well if she looked her actual age. No doubt, the business she’s in does not agree. And I’m not picking on Kidman, just mentioning her because the article talked about her. There are several other good actresses that come to mind in this same scenario.
I still like to watch some of the soaps when I get a chance and have been thinking about this while watching. I saw a character this week on General Hospital who has been on for years. He looks like an elderly man. Yet, two of the females who play his ex-wives look more like his daughters. I hate that Hollywood, the media, etc. doesn’t let women age gracefully and naturally.
I 52 and can smell Ralph Lauren Polo from a mile away, and it’s so rare these days that sometimes I’ll track the scent like a retired bloodhound and see who dares wear it in 2024. I think I’d have a heart attack if I rounded the corner at a store and instead of a 60 year old man I see a 15 year old boy.