Weekend Reads #307
There are some missing pieces of Weekend Reads this week because life intervened… and it's exactly why I quit my day job back in 2017 to be a full-time content creator – the ability to put my family first.
I will add links to Weekend Reads all week long, but usually do the rest on Friday. Well, yesterday was taken up by taking care of my high schooler. She ordered a homecoming dress online and it was delayed and ended up not being scheduled to arrive until Monday. And Homecoming was last night. And she is taller than last year so nothing she already owned would work. We headed to the mall with our fingers crossed we could find something… anything.
First stop was Nordstrom where in Brass Plum there was a spaghetti strapped sequined above-the-knee dress with adjustable straps available in a handful of colors and her size. It was cute, it could work, didn't cost a million bucks, and that was a relief. But we felt we could do better. And we did find a dress that was more her style and aesthetic and cost about the same at Windsor and bonus: it went with shoes she already owned.
We celebrated at California Pizza Kitchen, and then on the way home, stopped by Target so she could get some press-on nails to coordinate. Came home, I put her hair in hot rollers in an attempt for a messy updo, but we ended up just doing a high pony with volume and a black grosgrain ribbon tied around it, streaming down with her curls (the ribbon was from some brand swag gift I got over the years… I roll them up and keep them in a bean pot for moments just like this).
While one parent took them to the dance, I volunteered to take them from the dance to the all-night diner nearby, and then my kid and two friends are coming back here for a sleepover. I can only imagine how awful this all could have turned out if I was still working in D.C. with an hour-long commute and clients that wouldn't wait to handle a teenager tragedy.
The remainder of this post was completed between her leaving for the dance and me hanging out in the high school parking lot waiting for them to leave. And I am so grateful that I have a job that lets me do this. I believe in working to live, not living to work and thank you in advance for your understanding that today is a bit truncated. And if she gives me permission, I'll be sure to share her look in my Instagram Stories!
Weekend Reads #307
Can the Media Survive? Big tech, feckless owners, cord-cutters, restive staff, smaller audiences … and the return of print? (Intelligencer)
Fashion is losing the middle ground. (Marie Claire)
Marc Jacobs has been fashion royalty for four decades. He still isn’t satisfied. (Wall Street Journal – gift link)
Annoyed Redditors tanking Google Search results illustrates perils of AI scrapers. (ARS Technica)
AI models replace real people in Mango’s fast-fashion ads. (Business of Fashion)
From mommy blogger to MAGA’s most powerful weapon: The story of Jessica Reed Kraus. (Elle)
OMG I think I need to update my cocktail pantsuits article as Universal Standard dropped their holiday collection and hello pink stretch velvet pantsuit! And green, and black, jumpsuits and dresses, and lace all in sizes 00-40.
Who is styling Kamala Harris? (So Many Thoughts)
Dr. Mary Claire Haver has amassed a following in the millions, all on the promise that women can thrive through menopause. Not everyone is celebrating her rise. (New York Times – gift link)
How Las Vegas became the weirdest, wildest, and most futuristic city in America. (GQ)
How Substack's follow feature betrays its original mission. (UserMag)
Throw out your black plastic spatula. (The Atlantic – gift link)
I attended Google’s Creator Conversation event, and it turned into a funeral. (Giant Freakin Robot)
This Hollywood thriller hit close to home. (Amber Tamblyn for New York Times – gift link)
For my local yokels… the 8 best Indian restaurants in and around D.C. by Tom Sietsema. (Washington Post – gift link)
And in case you didn't early vote and want some more information before heading to the polls Tuesday:
- Here's where Harris and Trump stand on three big health care issues. (NPR)
- Why The Economist endorses Kamala Harris. (The Economist)
- Pro-Palestinian ‘Uncommitted’ Group Comes Out Firmly Against Trump. (New York Times – gift link)
- NSL4A (National Security Leaders for America) endorses Kamala Harris for President of the United States. (NSL4A)
- More than 700 current and former national security officials back Harris. (New York Times – gift link)
- Many of those who served in former President Donald J. Trump’s administration — especially his generals, ambassadors and other national security officials — have since turned on Mr. Trump. (New York Times – gift link)
Sale Alert
Sales are going to be often and heavy-duty this month; each Saturday Weekend Reads I will share my personal favorites and what I like or what I own and recommend.
Ann Taylor
I know, I know, I am on an Ann Taylor kick but Ann Taylor is on a roll with the quality, style, and FUN of their fashion! If you follow my Instagram Stories, you know I shared an unboxing and try-on of some pieces at AT and I love every single one. This weekend, Ann Taylor has 30% off sitewide with an additional 15% off if you spend $200+.
You know I love a holiday capsule, and I adore sequins, so I couldn't resist this skirt (got 16P), this top (XL), this sweater (XL), and this coat (16P). The sequin top looks super cute untucked with the skirt; it's glam but relaxed. The skirt also looks chic with the sweater, which is more of a boatneck than off the shoulder. And this coat LOOKS expensive. All together, I feel pretty darn fierce and could see the top with black pants or jeans, the skirt with a white shirt or black or gray turtleneck sweater, the sweater with jeans and trousers, and the coat would even elevate sweats and UGGs for an early coffee run.
Other items I'm digging from Ann are:
- This machine-washable blouse that is as easy as a tee but elegant enough for an evening or under a suit. Would be cute with jeans and boots, too!
- This marled sweater bomber that could be like a work jacket or a cozy layer with jeans or thrown over a turtleneck and fleece pants.
- This lightweight modern long puffer that is perfect for throwing on to walk the dog, get the paper, do a coffee run, or be comfy if you have more mild of winters. I can see this being a good coat with activewear, too.
- These loafers to glam up jeans or wear with your cocktail pantsuit. I have had good success with Ann Taylor shoes for comfort and durability and find they run roomy.
- These pajamas; I am tempted to put them on my Christmas list, they're so cool!
- This poncho to have each winter to throw on over a white blouse or black sweater to be cozy and glam. It's timeless and perfect for those holiday get together that go from the living room to the back patio or singing carols.
- This cardigan dress. Wear it as is, cinch it with a belt, wear over a tissue-weight turtleneck, tights, and boots, wear it open like a duster, wear as-is with boots or even sneakers. Black is nice but grape is great!
- These leather gloves, which I would look forward to pulling out of the cedar chest each winter. So chic!
Sephora
The Sephora Fall Savings Event is going on and my sister Debbie shared what she plans on buying. Check the comments for others sharing their favorites at Sephora!
As for me, I bought:
- Sephora Outrageous Plump Hydrating Lip Gloss: I live with a teen, which means my lip glosses often go missing. This is a good gloss at a good price; I got the Coral Flash because I know she won't like the color and I will!
- Summer Fridays Lip Balm: I love this stuff. I have the Poppy but ran out of the Vanilla Beige so got another one. I will be writing my initial on it with Sharpie so she doesn't steal it (and may buy this set for her; teens love these too!)
- Sephora Colorful® Wink-It Felt Tip Liquid Waterproof Eyeliner: My jam is a fun colored liquid liner with little other makeup. It's edgy but wearable and IMO looks cool on grown-ass women.
- MERIT Great Skin: MERIT sent me a bottle of this and I've used it up and like it so much I'm buying a replacement.
Hear/See/Read
We are watching Disclaimer, a series on Apple TV that stars Cate Blanchett, Sasha Baron Cohen, and Kevin Klein. The star power is strong, the acting is excellent, but dang do I hate every single character. I want to slap Cohen's character, I want to punch Blanchett, and Klein is so diabolical.
I know a lot of folks have given up on this show, hating it so much, but the most recent episode we've watched (and ended early because of panicked teen getting email about mail delivery) makes me think there's a bit more to this story about awful selfish jackass humans.
Are you watching Disclaimer? Did you read the book? I'm intrigued about the difference between the series and the book, especially with Blanchett's character also a narrator.
For Your Entertainment
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Love that you shared the link to the NSL4A letter – proud to say my dad’s name is on there!
That is so awesome!
I started Disclaimer, but gave up on the unpleasant characters. Just like with the books I read, if the characters don’t appeal by 30 pages in, I stop reading, so much to read, so little time.
I printed The Atlantic article about using black utensils. I plan to replace my black spatulas right away.
I’m waiting for my Ann Taylor Red Velvet Blazer to arrive. Looking forward to receiving it.
That Atlantic article had me gutting my kitchen immediately! And I hope you love the blazer!
Your daughter is lucky to have you. I am a 70 year old mom and grandmom who works as a private music teacher. There were years when I rearranged my schedule to accommodate chauffering duties for my kids. I am fortunate that I can do that. Just this year, I wiped Mondays clean so that I can take my 9 year old grandson to boychoir practice. I agree that life is to live. I don’t live to work. I love my work, but my family comes first. I know how fortunate I am to be able to make work secondary. I am married to a now retired high school band director. We never had a lot of money – it’s the nature of being music educators. However, we were able to give our daughters the gift of (mostly) being there. I am now gifting my two grandsons the same way.
On a slightly different note, I will confess a moment of regret when I read about your daughter’s homecoming. I am very glad you were able to find her a dress at the last minute. It’s important for kids to have positive H.S. experiences that they will look back on for the rest of their lives. Reading about teens’ proms and homecomings often brings up sad memories for me. I know it’s kind of silly to still feel a twinge of sadness for my teen self when hearing about others’ magical H.S. milestones. I am glad that things turned out so well for your girl.
I was a real nerd as a teen – class valedictorian, National Merit scholar, excellent and serious musician, and very shy. That was a deadly combination for social success as a teenager in the early 70s. Back in my day one did not go to prom or homecoming without a date, so I did not go – to any of them. I was a late bloomer, physically; I was pretty flat-chested until college. Boys did not see me as date material and seemed intimidated by my intelligence. I was definitely not one of the cool girls. I thought of myself as kind of an ugly duckling, though in hindsight, I know that was not true. The funny thing is that when I started college I suddenly started attracting male attention. It felt very strange because I knew that I had not changed. For many reasons, when the pond got bigger my social life improved.
I really appreciate your insightful posts on fashion and many other subjects. I still care about looking my best and certainly know a lot more about how to present myself to the world at age 70 than I did at age 17. I now know what shapes and colors look good on me. However, I know that I need to read blogs such as yours to stay current. My 17 year old self’s revenge is looking well put together and very well-preserved for my age. (I am regularly guessed to be 20+ years younger than I actually am.)
I remember my Mom telling me I couldn’t attend a dance without a date (I’m 51). I was/ am a nerd – and a happy one! My sons are now in high school and it makes me so happy that they can be happy attending OR not attending a dance. Phew! I wish I had their self-assuredness at that age!
I am so sorry you experienced that! I went to dances with friends quite often; we went with groups but I also went with dates. I had friends who would miss dances because they didn’t have dates and now my kid and her friends think it’s weird to have a date that isn’t your boyfriend/girlfriend!
Thank you for sharing your story, Kathy! Kids, at least in the area where I live, have come so far. My daughter is in a visual and performing arts program at a high school and it’s thrilling to see the kids we would have considered “theater nerds” thriving and being accepted and friends with the football players and cheerleaders and student government officers. Bullying is extremely rare, and for some circles, they’re not interested in dating and no one side eyes them. It gives me hope for our future!
You’re a good mom! Can’t wait to see your daughter’s outfit…
Aww thank you!
Re. the middle ground good quality leather bags: my answer is Kate Sheridan. I discovered her bags in a shop in Brooklyn but have been able to buy them online in the UK. I now have 2 of the Navy Tregoose bag in navy and black, which are my everyday bags. I would buy other colours if given the option (e.g. red or cream).