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)

In advance of his Super Bowl performance, Kendrick Lamar gets personal with friend and collaborator SZA. (Bazaar)

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