Research Space / Fashion and Beauty

Versatile Wool Blend. Just a really streamlined wool blend jacket in a very versatile shade.

Stylish Houndstooth Jacket. I want this amazing jacket so much it hurts: it's a great shape, and I'm a big fan of houndstooth, especially oversized houndstooth.

Great Quilted Jacket. Of course I have to include at least one jacket from Barbour; this quilted number is so great with the corduroy collar.

Well-Priced Wool Bomber. A really well-priced wool bomber.

Classic Barbour Style. Here's a more classic Barbour, again with a cool corduroy collar.

Quilted Alex Mill. An Alex Mill quilted number that comes in a few other good colors.

Chic Collarless Option. Another collarless option that I think is chic as can be.

Streamlined Wool Jacket. A wool collarless jacket with a very streamlined silhouette.

Warm Fleece Liner. A warm fleece liner that's a really good length.

Cute Quilted Liner. I can't get over how cute this liner jacket is with that heart-shaped quilting.

Balancing Expression. It occurred to me over the weekend that it doesn’t have to be so one or the other. That I don’t have to wave the flag of defeat and therefore let go of expression, or alternatively, forcefully claw my way into it as if I’ll never get it back.

Creative Expression Impact. Creative expression reveals itself through many different mediums, and when it's alive — when it reflects an active emotional experience, it is also distinctly seductive.

Personal Care Reflection. Somehow taking a tiny moment to make the tiny tweak of adding something weird to my coat feels like an expanse that frees this one part of me.

Expressing through Accessories. I think it feels good because there’s an element of frivolity implicit in the affixation of a brooch or belt or a piece of jewelry to a coat, or a cape to a jacket.

Mind Clutter Reflection. What I think the feeling of being spread thin really represents is that I’ve been going too fast and that pace is mostly about how busy my mind has been: how many things are on it, how cluttered it feels.

Wearing Comfort. What has been feeling right: repeatable outfits like a muscle tee and stretch wool trousers or jeans, or leggings and a good sweater.

Importance of Personal Style. Style is so unique to the wearer and sure, there are ways to help someone find their own or channel it or discover the pieces that align with their vision.

Frivolity in Fashion. Frivolity doesn’t have to imply a disrespect for necessity, it can serve as more of a talisman, a symbol, even a yearning to reconnect to the spaciousness of self-expression.

Authentic Dressing Impulses. In these early months postpartum, the dressing impulses that have felt most authentic are also the simple ones.

Emotional De-prioritization. One condition I’m starting to see when it feels like there’s not enough time is my own de-prioritization of tender pursuits like creative expression.

Workwear Jacket. A workwear jacket in a shade I call Carhartt brown, that’d be great with a hoodie layered underneath.

Quilted Design. Such a sweet little quilted leopard jacket; I like that it has ties instead of buttons.

Sophisticated Jacket. A really quite sophisticated merino wool utility jacket that reminds me somehow of 1990s Helmut Lang.

Affordable Bomber. This knit bomber rings in at just under $100 and looks pricier.

Comfortable Reversibility. I’d wear this reversible number from Alex Mill endlessly—it’s both really cool-looking and cozy-seeming.

Herringbone Appeal. I do love a good herringbone.

Field Jacket Style. Meanwhile, let’s check out the silhouette of this field jacket, which is so spiff.

Season Change. After a freakishly mild September and October, it’s finally kind of getting cooler here in New York.

Shopping Preference. I just acquired this pretty perfect silk blouse now because I just acquired it and like it so much.

Personal Fashion History. I am not sure from whence my love of toggles came, but if I had to trace it back to one thing, that would be a duffle coat I had in college.

Satin Slip Dress Appeal. A satin slip dress that looks a lot pricier than it is, and that I’d wear to parties with a shrunken cardigan.

Tuxedo Shirt Recommendation. I brake for tuxedo shirts, and this is a very good and inexpensive one.

Color Choice. This boiled Merino wool sweater also comes in black, but I think this bright orange-y red is so great.

J.Crew Topcoat Love. How chic is this topcoat from J. Crew? I love the gold buttons, of course.

Alpaca Cardigan Potential. Just a simple alpaca cardi that I’m thinking would go into seriously high rotation if I went for it.

Sweater Comfort. I have not been able to stop wearing my new half-zip from Trovata both indoors and out—it's squishy-soft, so warm, and really cute too.

Fashion Item Quality. It’s got ruffly touches at the sleeve and neckline, but they don’t come off as prissy somehow.

Jacket Discount. This Anine Bing jacket is almost half off at the moment and I can’t figure out why, because it looks pretty amazing to me.

New Relationship Introduction. I’m so excited to introduce my new boyfriend…

Skincare Boom. Over the next year, skincare became the fastest growing market in beauty, amassing $5.6 billion in sales and totaling 45% of the industry’s growth.

Injectables Surge. In 2019, 16.3 million minimally invasive cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. and by 2023, that number was 25.4 million.

Beauty as Morale. Beauty reframed the stripping of basic human features – pores, lines, fat, facial hair – as a morale-boosting treat.

Self-Care Politics. “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence… It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

Consumerism in Self-Care. Cosmetically manipulating our bodies in service to a consumerist standard of beauty has only one thing in common with Lorde’s vision of self-care.

Feminist Autonomy. Lip filler was messaged as a symbol of choice and autonomy.

Health and Appearance. The (false) association between health and appearance is strong enough that actual health-enhancing practices are now advertised as cosmetic practices.

Political Chaos Impact. With the recent reelection of President Trump, 2016 is here again… strategically for beauty brands, if innocently enough for consumers.

Bad Sisters Return. Bad Sisters is back, and the first season was so good that I can’t wait to see what they’ve got in store for season two.

Fred Tomaselli's Art. Brooklyn artist Fred Tomaselli's amazing mosaics have just been installed in New York City subway stations.

Quilt Index. Your rabbit hole of the day: The quilt index.

Read More Link. Visit the link for more insights.

Spending Habits. I was in the habit of doing back when I still spent stupid amounts of money on clothing.

Personal Loneliness. I was dating, though not very successfully. I was kind of lonely.

Beautiful Apartment. My actual apartment was beautiful, with floor-to-ceiling windows, multiple exposures, and views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.

Living Situation. I was living then with my two dogs on the Lower East Side, in newish-but-somehow-still-sketchy doorman building on an otherwise pretty desolate stretch of Eldridge Street.

Valuable Hoodie Purchase. I purchased a zipper hoodie for $500. Rather surprisingly, it turned out to be one of my wisest purchases ever.

Fair Isles Appeal. Fair Isles are such a good, low-effort way to introduce some pattern to your outfit.

Sweater Weather. It’s finally truly sweater weather out—this morning it’s a crisp 42 degrees.

Gorgeous Cardigan. Just a gorgeous cardigan from Doen.

Taking Back Color. Some of you commented that you’re having a tough time wearing red post-election, but I think we have to take the color back.

Vintage Finds. I like to scour Etsy for vintage Fair Isles, and recently unearthed this great find, which isn't my size or I would have snapped it up in an instant.

Graphic Design. Black and white is always so excellently graphic on a Fair Isle.

Unexpected Choice. This polo neck choice is nicely unexpected.

Subtle Options. I like that this one is on the subtler side, and the color combination is boss.

Color Combination. I am crazy for the color combination here; black and yellow with a hint of brown shouldn’t work, but it really does.

Texture Play. Playing around with the contrast of leather and knit gloves creates a balance of toughness and softness.

Scarves for Expression. Styling a scarf with one side over the outfit and the other flipped over shoulder adds new color or texture.

Explore Self-Expression. Putting on clothing that makes you feel secure and confident, while allowing accessories to produce emotional accents, is a good pursuit.

Dynamic Details. The tiny minutiae moments, like a sliver of exposed red string, really do make a difference in an outfit.

Hat Trend. A wild and crazy fuzzy hat allows one to remain stylish while keeping a casual outfit.

Small Brand Discovery. The gloves are from a small brand called Margaret, which was discovered through a newsletter subscriber.

Usage of Gloves. Gloves can serve as an accent color within a sea of neutrals, enhancing the overall outfit.

Scarf as a Belt. Wearing a scarf as a belt is possibly the easiest way to sustain wearing the simplest outfits without feeling boring.

Clinging to Dependability. Clinging to what dependability you can feign is soothing during life changes or feelings of instability.

Style and Emotion. Feeling alive in your clothes is informed by how driven you are to appeal to your feelings when you’re getting dressed.

Historical Trends. The modern genesis of cold weather accessories can be traced back to Raf Simons’ balaclavas for Calvin Klein (Fall 2018).

Frivolous Glove Era. We are entering a frivolous glove era, which reflects the growing trend of cold weather accessories as stylistically relevant to the sum of an outfit.

Fixed Style Drawbacks. Having a fixed sense of style can encounter a downfall in that it can read a bit flat if it is so consistent that there is no emotionality.

Pattern Preference. I like the scattered and mismatched dots on this cool shirt.

Fashionable Dress. A striped poplin dress for wearing with tights and boots when it's cool out.

Beautiful Marbled Notebook. This hand-marbled specimen is just beautiful.

Notebook Preference. I still write a lot of things down in a notebook.

Durability of Glasses. These Moroccan glasses appear sturdy enough to survive my household.

Quilt Aesthetic. I feel like a quilt is one of those things that looks good no matter what the aesthetic of your home is.

Home Goods Interest. Toast also offers a fun variety of home goods from all over.

Seasonal Color Trends. Deep green continues to be one of my favorite colors of the season.

Silk Shirt Desire. I want this silk shirt—the same print as above, but in a different colorway—so damn much.

Well-Constructed Pieces. I find their pieces to be well-constructed and worth the price.

Target Market. Their pieces seem tailor-made for stylish women in the Of a Certain Age era of their lives.

New Store Opening. They've opened their first U.S. store on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.

Unique Options. The author discovered a 'ripstop box tote' from Clare V with a pop of safety orange at the zipper.

Canvas Utility. Never underestimate the utility and anti-fashion chic of a simple canvas bag.

Chic Embossed Look. A super-chic croc-embossed option looks timeless despite its cost.

Preferred Shape. The author prefers a more vertical tote over a horizontal one and highlights a slouchy choice.

Sueded Sophistication. A cool suede option in deepest brown is available for under $200.

Tote Revolution. The tote is often seen as a necessary but unexciting item, essential for work or travel, but can be stylish.

Markdown Alert. A suede choice is currently marked down.

Pleated Pocket Design. The author likes the pleated pocket on a bag from Everlane.

Color Appeal. The Essential Bucket Tote from Madewell comes in a lot of colors, with a highlighted poppy red as a favorite.

Easy Meal Idea. Spaghetti with pesto is a go-to meal for my kids; they prefer a specific brand.

Design Inspiration. LaTonya designed Mae House in upstate New York as a sanctuary for BIPOC folks.

Supporting Local. I like to support Black-owned businesses as much as possible.

Nostalgic Beauty. I love a creamy brown lipstick. It feels old-school, very Lauryn Hill, very ’90s.

Book Exploration. LaTonya Yvette's new book 'Stand In My Window' explores what home means to her, as a Black woman and mother.

Hidden Condition of Minimalism. Maybe minimalism has stayed around for as long as it has because there’s a hidden condition at play when we are constructing our respective images.

Highs and Lows. Read more

Example of a Coat. Example of a “coat that overwhelms the whole” from Tuesday’s letter.

Link to Cafe Leandra. Here's what's up at Cafe Leandra

Desire for Novelty. It doesn’t take the underlying, basic human inclination to want and to strive towards away.

Style Evolution. Much of the style rhetoric in popular culture right now is about building bulletproof renderings of the wardrobe-platonic-ideal, with capsule items you can return to forever and onwards.

Simplicity in Style. As far as style goes, I am finding myself drawn to the simplest templates (brown/black/white combos, plain pants and a shirt, a coat that overwhelms the whole) to decorate with details.

Impact of Self-Exposure. The overall theory might only apply for those among us who post pictures of ourselves online or even just those who take a good amount of self portraits/are prone towards more self-reflection.

Fashion Time Capsule. There’s something nice (and valuable) about the time capsule element of fashion and style, of looking back to indulge in the “What was I thinking?” that is so often implicit in style reflections.

Election Grief. A helpful piece about dealing with election grief was highlighted, which is very much a real thing.

Happiness Muscle. A great piece about how to exercise the so-called happiness muscle was shared, and it was just what I needed to read right then.

Kusama's Sculpture. Yayoi Kusama's new work, Infinite Accumulation, is her largest permanent public sculpture to date.

4B Movement. The 4B movement in South Korea is a reaction to the country’s sky-high beauty standards, with adherents shaving their heads and rejecting relationships with men.

Internal Leaks. The Post’s media columnist would always run a postmortem the next day that included enough surprisingly accurate details about what was said and done there to assume that at least one person in attendance had to be leaking choice bits.

Media Chatter. This rendered the event the subject of a great deal of anticipation and fascination.

Annual Executive Gathering. It was most notable for being the only time all the editors-in-chief and publishers were in the same room at the same time the entire year.

Seating Arrangement Importance. Lip service would be paid each year by the bosses as to how irrelevant seating at the lunch was, but everyone knew better.

Significance of Holiday Lunch. The holiday lunch was that important.

Seating Chart Submission. Which only made sense, really. No other publishing company had a ritual that incited nearly so much fascination and chatter among media watchers.

Seating Chart Accuracy. No other publishing company had a ritual that incited nearly so much fascination and chatter among media watchers.

Functional Pockets. I dig the big exterior pockets here.

Cuff Interest. I also like the cuffs on these.

Another Wide-leg. Another wide leg option, from Gap.

Comfortable Wide-leg. A wide-leg option that looks desperately comfortable.

Trouser-y Vibe. These have a slightly trouser-y vibe.

Clean Look. Just a really clean-looking pair for not a lot of cash.

Affordable Cashmere. This pair goes for under $100 and comes in lots of shades.

Rag & Bone Love. I love this trompe l'œil pair from Rag & Bone—it really looks like actual jeans.

Spanx Preference. These are from Spanx, and I dig the ever-so-slightly harem pant-ish silhouette.

Chic Sweatpants. Let's look at some sweatpants that are chic enough to wear on the street, like this spiff faux leather pair.

Connection Importance. A good first step is to stay connected to the people we love, and who share our values.

Family Sentiment. As my sister-in-law Shirim remarked, 'Tucker Carlson wins, Netanyahu wins, Elon Musk wins. Every ugly nativist, misogynistic, impulse wins. I am mute.'

Emotional Reflection. I’m feeling deathly sad and full of dread.

Homebound Plans. I'll be at home all day (I already voted) and we're supposed to record the podcast this afternoon.

Voting Urgency. I'm just here urging you to get out and vote, if you haven't already.

Watching Returns. Then we'll watch the returns tonight, probably on MSNBC for Steve Kornacki.

Podcast Recording. Recording the podcast this afternoon ought to be an interesting exercise, given the day.

Comfortable Yet Stylish. The thing that’s so great about a classic coat that is cozy and enables seamless mobility is that it makes for a good keep-on item.

Put Together for Errands. School drop-off, commuting to a morning workout class, picking up groceries, getting a coffee, wtvr you’re doing that doesn’t require clothes but might still call you to look like you’re dressed.

Accessorizing Freedom. The thing about more subtle clothing expressions is that they’re permission to get weird with your accessories.

Style Experimentation. This one doesn’t look like much, but it does feel a shift because something about the winter nudes styled together without the usual bridge colors feels right.

Tried and True Styles. When things are shaky, I tend to go for the tried and trues, what I know works.

Postpartum Reflections. There is a familiarity about the postpartum phase that feels like it comes wrapped in frantic energy.

Desire for Reinvention. I think it’s the part that wants to come alive.

Inspiration from Life. Ralph Lauren advised, 'You’ve got to be inspired by your own life.'

Emotional Dressing. I feel flat or dull or like a parody of myself. Nothing is coming alive.

Link to Article. Read more

Patchwork Sweater Attraction. This patchwork-y sweater is so not my thing, but I find myself drawn to it nevertheless.

Cashmere Turtleneck. A cashmere turtleneck in a very pretty shade of blue. It also comes in a pretty good brown, but I'm in the middle of my annual attempt to wear more color color.

Stylish Pants. Also snapped up from Everlane: these cool and easy straight leg pants.

Fair Isle Cardigan. A cardigan that incorporates two of my favorite things: a Fair Isle pattern and toggle buttons.

Affordable Tuxedo Shirt. This awesome tuxedo shirt from Everlane was in my cart mere milliseconds after I spotted it, and now it's on its way to me; I got it in black too, and might go back for the white.

Seasonal Marimekko Collab. The seasonal Marimekko collab at Uniqlo just dropped and honestly it's no great shakes, but I did like this cute padded scarf.

Corduroy Shirt Dress. I really want a corduroy shirt dress, and this one from Madewell is pretty great.

Faux Fur Coat. Here's a pretty spiff faux fur leopard coat. I particularly like the bracelet sleeve.

Leopard Silk Scarf. A smart silk triangle scarf in leopard feels like something we all should own, no?

Vibrant Yellow Coat. Is this yellow coat not divine? I don't usually like how belted coats look on me, but I might make an exception for this.

Gingerbread Recipe Request. Last year, my friend Nina hosted a holiday party and served incredible gingerbread cookies with maple glaze.

Cocktail Event Attire. The only scary part was I had to take the freight elevator up 16 floors.

Getting Ready Rituals. I wear this sexy robe after showering while getting ready.

Using Color in Style. I recently got this bright red suit, which makes me feel grown up.

Seasonal Party Planning. My friend Mo throws the best holiday gatherings.

Fashion Finds. Right now, I’m liking DISSH's slinky knits.

High/Low Party Ideas. One memorable gathering was a caviar and baked potato party - it was the perfect high/low way to kick off the season.

Monochromatic Dressing. I’ve been dressing monochromatically for 10 years, it’s just easier for my brain.

Cocktail Attire Event. I went to an election fundraiser with the dress code 'cocktail attire.'

Holiday Party Excitement. During this nail-biting time, we’re excited to chat about something warm and festive: holiday parties with loved ones.

Fashionable Streets. The streets during fall are as well-dressed as the trees.

Seasonal Inspiration. New York peaks in the fall, inspiring people to leave their houses.

Camaraderie in Fashion. There's palpable camaraderie in the air during the season; it feels like love.

Leopard Accents. Leopard accents in fashion are noticeable through various pieces like pants, coats, and shoes.

Seasonal Colors. Pops of red and other seasonal colors are being prominently displayed in fashion.

Emerging Luxury Trends. Questions arise over whether brown paper bags might be the next frontier of luxury goods.

Contrast in Fashion. Tailoring with totes creates the right contrast in outfits.

New Sunglasses. Miu Miu’s 'Regard' sunglasses are popular, ushering in the season when sunglasses are functional.

Trendy Accessories. Recreational scarves are being worn over outfits that don’t really need them.

Stylish Inconsistencies. In peak-New York, there are stylistic inconsistencies like gloves over lightweight shirts.

Fall Dressing. Dressing for fall comes after a two-month break from dressing, creating excitement.

Spiritual Beauty. There's a spiritual quality about this beauty, a sort of tender sacricity, an intangible touch.

Holiday Spirit. In October and November, you can smell the precursor to holiday spirit from midtown.

Moon Unit Zappa Episode. We’ve got Moon Unit Zappa on Everything is Fine this week, and we’re talking about her new memoir and the crazy, harrowing childhood she describes in it.

Retro Logo Delight. These retro 80s versions of tech company logos are a delight.

Severance Teaser Interest. This teaser for Severance—a show I was slow to get on board with but eventually loved—has me hooked.

Costume Idea. I’m going as a breakfast sandwich.

Halloween Excitement. My boys are out of their minds excited for Halloween tonight, and I can’t wait to see everyone's funny costumes in the neighborhood.

Wife's Wedding Reading. We’ve loved Roxane Gay for ages, and it was delightful to see her and that particular piece of writing show up on Big Salad on our wedding weekend!

Pasta Cooking Advice. Never put oil in your pasta water, but do make sure it’s well salted.

Dinner Party Playlist. I made a playlist for dinner parties that’s aperitivo-themed and meant to put you in the mood for chitchatting and enjoying a meal.

Chicken Cooking Tip. Whenever I slip them on, I feel ready to meet friends for dinner but just as easily could run around with my kid at the park, which is the vibe I want from all my clothes these days.

Roxane Gay's Favorites. Roxane Gay shares her 11 favorite things, including her relationship manifesto and the #1 essential she always brings on a plane.

Home Tour Vibes. Ali LaBelle gave us a tour of her home, which has English countryside vibes.

Hinge Profile Feedback. I showed my Hinge dating profile, and people were torn on the sunglasses photo!

Big Salad Issues. This month, we’ve sent four Big Salad issues.

Bezos's Influence. Jeff Bezos reportedly made the decision after the editorial board had already drafted an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris in order to appeal to Harris's opponent, former President Donald Trump.

Podcast Discussion. I'm on the newest episode of the Non-toxic podcast with Daniel Waite Penny, talking all about male beauty standards.

Myth of Red Lipstick. The myth that suffragettes wore red lipstick to symbolize their mission isn’t true; it seems to have originated in 1999 and isn’t backed up by historical evidence.

Red v. Wade Shade. Sarah Creal Beauty is donating 15% of Red v. Wade's net sales to Planned Parenthood.

Lipstick Collection. Sarah Creal Beauty launched a new lipstick collection called Speak for Yourself, featuring shades like Invisible Labor, Pink Tax, and Red v. Wade.

Political Beauty. Beauty is always political and aesthetic presentation can be a strategic part of crafting a political persona.

Beauty Brands and Politics. These principles have not carried over to canceled Amazon Prime subscriptions, or petitions to stop beauty brands and influencers from doing business on Amazon.

Subscription Cancellations. Over 200,000 Washington Post readers have canceled their subscriptions since the news broke.

Washington Post Decision. The Washington Post announced it would break with decades of tradition and would not endorse a candidate in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

Invitation for Questions. I’m here to answer any and all of your questions regarding that time, so please do share your questions.

Lucky Launch Date. Lucky launched in December of 2000.

Job Termination. I was booted from that job in September 2010.

Career Experience. It was, quite literally, the best and worst ten years of my life.

Chic Floral. The cloudy appearance of this embroidered floral is rather abstractly chic.

Minimalist Design. More tiger energy, in minimal black and white.

Vintage Reminiscent. These double tigers here remind me of vintage souvenir jackets.

Heart Sweatshirt. Another fun heart sweatshirt—and one that comes in a few good colorways, though I'm partial to this blue on blue.

Color Combination. I always dig pink and brown together—it’s a color combination that shouldn’t work, but really does.

California Love. This one would appear to be a no-brainer.

Cute Options. Clare V has a ton of cute ones from which to choose.

Pop of Color. This Fleetwood Mac one is so excellently pink and yellow, and really pops.

Hometown Pride. A cute, subtle option with which to advertise your hometown pride.

Changing Beauty Standards. The so-called 'canceling' of mascara and concealer highlights changing beauty standards among Gen Z.

Podcast Collaboration. The Review of Mess is a podcast collaboration between The Review of Beauty (by Jessica DeFino) and I <3 Mess (a fashion newsletter from Emily Kirkpatrick).

Topics Discussed. Today we're talking about: Halsey as The Great Impersonator, nepo-models, Miu Miu's prepubescent aesthetic, and more!

Guest Insights. The podcast features insights from various sources, including the media and influencers.

Taylor Swift's Impact. Taylor Swift's Chiefs Game appearance wearing Fazit's glitter freckles leads to over $1M in sales.

Death of Journalism. The death of journalism is a topic of concern mentioned during the podcast.

Victoria's Secret Show. The episode also covers the Victoria's Secret fashion show, indicating ongoing dialogues about beauty and representation.

Ballet Body Trend. The rise of the 'ballet body' (or, more accurately, the 'surgical body') is discussed in the episode.

Heuristics in Motherhood. What you get from doing something life-changing more than once: best practices, learnings or the framework of a tested map to use when you need it.

Paradox of Motherhood. The paradox of motherhood is the condition. It’s everything at the same time.

Mother and Baby Identity. I didn’t know if I was baby or mom, if we were even two different things.

Dynamic Next Moves. No matter how much you think you can prepare, life is not a test, there’s no answer key. You have to do it to figure it out.

Vulnerability in Postpartum. There is in fact as intense a vulnerability, a need to stay close, well into the postpartum phase.

Emotional Fluctuations. The emotional fluctuations are real: the intense jubilation, the existential dread.

Life as Spiral. Life is a spiral so it rotates for sure but you can never actually be back where you were once before and there is very big freedom in that.

Postpartum Energy. There is a familiarity about the postpartum phase that feels like it comes wrapped in frantic energy.

Ongoing Paradox. The most consistent condition of motherhood is the ongoing paradox of it all.

Body Communication. they can also be communications from the body pointing to a deeper health concern requiring your attention.

Beauty vs Health. when dermatology is just 'beauty culture masquerading as health'.

Limitations of Treatments. the limits of spironolactone for treating hormonal acne.

Career Inspiration. My experience with them inspired my career in the beauty industry, actually.

Impact of Pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals did little to ameliorate this agony.

Physician Attitude. The doctor brushed off my concerns.

Mental Health Concerns. I have a history of depression and suicidal ideation, so Accutane makes me nervous.

Further Readings. Click through to the Guardian to read the whole thing.

Severe Acne Struggles. I have a shitload of acne scars and I&#8217;ve struggled with acne my entire life; I spent so much on vampire facials and topicals that didn&#8217;t work.

Pops of Pink. This one has some pops of pink, but it was too pretty not to include.

Non-Itchy Sweater Dress. I don’t usually like sweater dresses because they’re so itchy, but this one is made of Merino wool, which isn’t so bothersome in that respect.

Graphic Floral. A super-graphic floral that’d work for any season.

Washable Silk Shirt. A washable silk shirt dress that looks pricier than it is.

Graceful Dress. Such a feminine, graceful dress that reminds me of this one that I showed you a couple of weeks ago.

Layerable Maxi Dress. This flutter-sleeve maxi is more of a summery style, but I’d wear it when it’s cool out layered over a tee or turtleneck and tights.

Cozy Fleece Funnel. This fleece funnel neck option looks like the coziest thing ever, but is also nicely polished.

Flattering Twist-Waist. A cute and flattering twist-waist jersey dress that rings in just under $100.

Stretch Jersey Base. A stretch jersey number that would be fantastic as a base for layering.

Dress with Layers. This dress has a jersey top and a ponte skirt, giving it that faux-layered look I always like.

Research Contribution. Consider contributing to the research here. And again, it’s anonymous! Answer freely and forward to a friend.

Poll Insights. Tell me how beauty labor has benefited you, how it’s destroyed you, how it’s helped you at work, how it’s hurt your relationships!

Poll Participation. Will you answer this (anonymous) poll on the link between beauty and “the good life” for me?

Subjective Concepts. Ideas of “good looks” and “the good life” are subjective and ever-changing.

Beauty and Success. A young woman is seeking advice re: how to accept that she isn’t “one of the beautiful ones” and therefore may not experience the professional and romantic successes of her “prettier” peers.

Velvet Blazer Discount. There is something just eternally lady rock star about a velvet blazer, and right now this one is 30% off.

Chic Satin Blouse. And finally, a chic frill-neck satin blouse from Uniqlo's collab with Comptoir des Cottoniers.

Denim Scarf Replacement. I think this Chan Luu scarf is just the perfect denim-y blue; I owned it once and left it at a party about five years ago, and I think it might finally be time to replace it.

Zipper Poncho Versatility. This zipper poncho comes in a few good colors, but I like this sweatshirt-y grey. This just seems like a versatile and easy piece.

Shirtwaist Dress Admiration. Just a gorgeous Liberty of London print shirtwaist dress—I’d wear it just like it’s shown here, with slouchy knee-high boots.

Toggle Coat Love. I do love a toggle coat, and this one is just so good.

Fun Cardi. Just a cozy, fluffy, fun mohair blend cardi in a fun leopard print.

Puffer Vest Wish. I really want a puffer vest to wear under cloth coats this winter, to make them cozier.

Skirt Opinion. Something about the print on this skirt reads festive-but-not-corny to me.

Sweater Search. I’ve been searching for a half-zip sweater ever since the moths stole my Nili Lotan one.

Podcast Recommendation. Vibe Check is hosted by three friends – Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford – who have smart takes on pop culture and wonderful chemistry.

Culinary Experience. They have a waffle sandwich with egg, bacon, Gruyère, and maple syrup — it's sweet and savory, crispy and soft, all the things.

Childhood Reflection. When I look at little queer me and her tool belt, I just think, I've been myself the whole time.

Wedding Memories. Grace and I had a tiny wedding — 10 people — and we ate dinner at Buvette.

Creative Genealogy. My high school and college notebooks were filled with charts; it's how I've always organized my thoughts.

Cookbook Personalization. Julia's latest cookbook, What Goes With What, is her most personal yet.

Ingredient Transparency Issue. 90% of brands use fragrance ingredients but most — 72% — do not disclose the exact ingredients they use.

Beyoncé's New Fragrance. Beyoncé released a second fragrance, CÉ LUMIÈRE.

Consumer Rights. DeFino first became interested in ingredient transparency when she developed dermatitis, highlighting the issue of consumer rights and health.

Investor Politics. Individual members and employees of Sequoia Capital, one of Glossier's top investment firms, have donated over $300,000 to Republican candidates and organizations since 2020.

Glossier's Political Ad. Glossier took out a full-page ad in the New York Times encouraging readers to vote blue in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

Skincare and Relationships. 24-year-old Daisy's extensive nighttime regimen involves applying multiple products, putting in a mouthguard, and wearing an eye mask, which leads to arguments with her boyfriend about intimacy.

Product Personification Trend. In the coming year, treating products as pets or dolls or even extensions of the self will be commonplace.

E.l.f. Collaboration. E.l.f. Cosmetics collaborated with Stanley to create lip glosses shaped like mini Stanley Tumblers that clip onto the handles of full-size Stanley Tumblers.

80s Inspired Show. I’m loving the series Rivals, which is on Hulu right now. It’s set in that decade, with a fun soundtrack to match, and follows two powerful men whose drama plays out primarily outside of London.

Music History Book. I think this new book from NPR, How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History, would be excellent for any lady music lovers in your life.

Podcast Topics. On Everything is Fine this week, we’re talking about going to parties, flirting after 50, finding your people, pot-smoking octogenarians, and so much more.

Sock Boots Price. They retail for $380 and achieve the effect of a mesh slipper for a colder climate.

Flavor Enhancement. I've been putting smoked paprika on everything lately.

Stylistic Balance. The challenge of see-through garments is balancing sex appeal with desired rigidity.

Lifestyle Integration. I'm thinking about what I crave with clothes, particularly after postpartum changes.

Accessorizing. As we enter our scarves/hats/gloves-as-part-of-the-outfit era, this hat makes pretty good sense if you want for a lift.

New Jewelry Collection. I’m launching a small capsule with Audry Rose later this month.

Jewelry Focus. This shift to minimalism has been sending more of my focus to jewelry.

Postpartum Minimalism. My style’s been settling into an oddly minimalist nook — it’s mostly black or navy t-shirts and pants.

Winter Wear. Dupion collection and boiled wool stuff that just launched is now a focus.

Building Anticipation. The Row’s got a few pair up for Fall but I’d recommend the ones from Renate Jacob.

Fashion Trend. Jazz shoes will become a thing. Maybe the Mary Jane’s successor — the next viral flat.

Contrast Styling. White jeans styled with something structured-ish on top seem to be the trick if you are looking for contrast.

Jeans Compatibility. Don't know how much I trust that they’ll feel right with jeans but figuring that out is a matter of trying.

Sunglasses Swap. By removing the scarf-as-belt and replacing it with a pair of sunglasses, it’s like an entirely different look.

Accessory Impact. It's wild how far a quick accessory change can go.

Complementary Outfits. Sock boots should be paired with tailored trousers and jackets.

Brave Pudding. It's called Brave Pudding and they make one product: sock boots.

Further Reading. Read more about my experiences.

Summer Camp Packing. The playroom primarily became a place for our cats to nap and for my mom to lay clothes out while packing us up for summer camp.

Billiards Table. My dad installed a billiards table in the playroom, which we enjoyed for about a month.

Unique Layout. The first floor's footprint was quite different than the second floor's, resembling two boxy one-story houses stacked on top of each other.

Houston's Trend. There's nothing Houston loves like tearing down a perfectly good structure and building something newer and sparklier in its place.

McMansions Built. Developers built three McMansions where my childhood home once stood.

House Demolished. The house I grew up in was torn down by the developers who bought the property.

Midcentury Design. Our house was Midcentury in design and built in the 50s.

Positive Reception. Beauty editors were 'sheepishly impressed' by Scarlett Johansson's skincare company, The Outset.

Financial Extraction. It’s a little tacky to leverage one’s irreproducible beauty capital to extract fans’ financial capital.

Consumer Awareness. Customers aren’t stupid; they understand that celebrity beauty brands often do not deliver the results associated with the celebrities endorsing them.

Cosmetic Limitations. Whatever 'gentle plumping' power The Outset's 'Maxilip Technology' has, it will not do the work of injectables or inheritance.

Celebrity Influence. Celebrity beauty brands operate by capitalizing on public perception of their appearance while obscuring the reality behind it.

Marketing Strategy. The emphasis on Scarlett Johansson's 'iconic lips' may reflect a marketing strategy to leverage her beauty.

Lip Product Launch. The Outset introduced a lip product, Lip Oasis Glossy Treatment, aiming to combine skincare benefits with lip care.

Growing Lip Category. The lip care category is big right now; it saw double-digit growth in the first half of 2024.

Investment Suggestion. The Kardashians' waning beauty influence could improve if they invested in the cosmetic pharmaceutical market rather than just selling skincare.

Versatile Tote. Just a good, nicely slouchy leather tote.

Recycled Nylon Bag. And finally, I love the schoolgirl vibes of this cool recycled nylon bag.

North-South Tote. I always appreciate a good north-south tote, and this one has room for everyone.

Canvas and Leather. I always really like when canvas and leather are mixed on a bag.

Standout Hardware. I don't usually like a lot of hardware on a bag, but the turnlock here is really standout.

Sophisticated Bucket Tote. Madewell's popular Bucket Tote gets sophisticated in rich chocolate brown suede.

Color Variety. I'm really liking quilting at the moment, I guess, because this crossbody also appeals. It also comes in some other good shades, just fyi.

Chic Messenger Bag. When I was in Amsterdam, so many chic women were carrying this super-spiff quilted messenger bag from Cos.

Chevron Pattern. I dig the chevron pattern on this cheaper-than-it-looks quilted crossbody.

Affordable Fashion. This clutch reminds me of this much pricier one from Mansur Gavriel, and I really like the burgundy hue.

Healthy Practices. Digestive gut health is so important, esp when you travel a lot.

Mom's Creative Exploration. I love that my kids are creative and their imaginations are insane.

Embrace Play. Treasure the little hand grabs and hugs and play-with-me requests.

Reminder System. I have an alarm in my phone that goes off at 8 p.m. that just says 'Hi' and it's a physical reminder to literally turn to my side and say hi to my husband.

Dinner as Love Language. A good meal is my love language.

Engaging with Kids. I always remind myself that I just have to fill up their cup for like, 5 minutes.

Dress for Comfort. I’d rather get dressed for myself which means staying comfortable and making sure I have on one thing that makes me happy.

Mom Style Shift. As far as being a mom, my style has definitely become more practical.

Fashion Philosophy. I don’t give fashion a whole lot of brain space.

Travel Impact. I never feel under or overstimulated or under or over inspired. My proximity creates an ideal balance.

Creative Flexibility. I have such a good relationship with the buying team and often, on a creative whim, we’ll realize we want to create a new product.

Work-Life Balance. This job has so much travel, so I’m in New York really often.

Family Engagement. My daughter is 2-years-old and wants to put on everything herself, whereas my son, who is 4, is pretty straightforward.

Early Morning Routine. On a regular day, I wake up around 4:30 a.m.

Contrasting Features. There is so much to like here: the contrasting sleeves, the nubby boucle texture, the wide, wide collar.

Warm Puffer. A fleece puffer just sounds like the warmest thing ever, and this one is, remarkably, under $100.

Versatile Cardigan. The slouchiness of this Uniqlo cardigan is just so excellent, and it rings in at just under $50.

Chic Leopard Print. A sweet little leopard print for not a lot of cash.

Soft Color Choice. I always like a pop of safety orange, but the color is way too harsh against my skin, so this is perfect.

Affordable Pullover. A cheery, cozy half-zip pullover from J. Crew.

Versatile Colors. This one has a slightly more traditional shape, and comes in about a million colors.

Stylish Material Use. I love how brands are using this lightweight, toasty-warm, traditionally outdoorsy material in new and stylish ways.

Fair Isle Sweater. I sort of wish I’d never seen this chunky Fair Isle sweater, because now I can not unsee it, and I want it a lot and it’s not cheap. The combination of colors is just unstoppable.

Birkenstock Replacement. I spilled curry sauce all over my trusty Birkenstock house shoes last winter and they’ve been kind of gross ever since, so I’m thinking of going for them all over again.

Quilted Jacket. A cute quilted jacket that reminds me of something from Barbour, only slightly chicer.

Soft Pants Need. I discovered during my recovery days that I do not have enough sweatpant-adjacent 'soft' pants.

Cozy Quarter Zip. This quarter zip fleece just looks like the coziest, and I like how the trim contrasts with the grey.

Puffer Jacket Needs. I don't need a new puffer—but I do really really want this spiff corduroy one.

Black Floral Dress. I love a floral against a black background, especially when the contrasting colors really pop, as they do on this cool dress.

Favorite Bras. I’ve written a lot about my favorite underwear here—but not so much about my favorite bras, which are from Else, a Turkish brand I discovered a few years ago.

Cute Skirt. Just a really cute straight skirt in corduroy, with a generous slit to keep things walkable.

Charcoal Blazer. I dig the charcoal hue of this blazer, and the fact that it comes with faux sweater cuffs at the sleeve.

Newsletter Ideas. Erika and I were chatting about our newsletters, just for fun, and brainstorming story ideas.

Enjoying Friends’ Profiles. After all, I LOVE seeing my friends’ profiles and thinking about how strangers might envision them.

Profile Sharing Fun. The more I thought about it, the more fun it sounded to share my profile, and hear about yours.

Hinge Profile Idea. Erika suggested, 'And you should post your Hinge profile, along with the caption for your readers: 'Roast me.''

Dinner with Erika. I was at dinner with writer Erika Veurink, eating cheesy cavatelli pasta and drinking Coke with cool ice cubes.

Modern Love Favorites. This rundown of reader faves from the Times’s popular Modern Love column is a poignant walk down memory lane.

Garden of Allah. I’m low-key obsessed with the Garden of Allah, a constellation of L.A. bungalows inhabited by movie stars and transplanted New York writers working in Hollywood that was once called 'The Algonquin roundtable gone west and childish.'

Female Photographers. This piece—about a new book that gives female photographers and their techniques their proper due—intrigues.

Read More. For additional insights, refer to the article.

Social Circle Influence. Our social life, because of this, pretty much revolved around other smokers.

Smoking Culture. We both smoked—back then you could still smoke in the dorms—and you were assigned a smoking roommate.

Finding Community. The more I found out about Oberlin the more convinced I was that it was the place for me.

Creative Writing Interest. Oberlin also had a strong creative writing program, which I was very interested in.

Social Awareness. The town itself had been the northernmost point on the Underground Railroad, and the student body had a reputation for being socially aware and politically active.

Oberlin's History. Oberlin was the first college to admit Black students, and the first liberal arts college to award degrees to women.

Impulses in Dressing. I trust it when impulse tells me to follow a feeling.

Confidence Takes Time. It takes a minute for your confidence to catch up.

Reflection on Life Changes. These clothes are precisely the result of a big life change, like moving cities or jobs, or losing a loved one or gaining a new one or facing bodily fluctuations.

Simple Yet Unique. You can keep the looks really simple this way — spend virtually no thought on them but still create unique enough dynamics that you feel special in whatever you’re wearing.

Accessories Importance. The right accessories really can go a long way.

Emotional Response to Outfits. I wanted the outfit to spark an emotional response (from me).

Patterns in Dressing. I feel disjointed, clothes are off, something just isn’t clicking every year at this time.

Writing Helps. Writing this stuff out usually helps me organize my thoughts and almost always also leads me somewhere a bit deeper.

Impact of Seasons. I usually realize what clothes feel right at the turn of a new season.

Dressing Challenges. I come nose to nose with a dressing challenge I want to tackle.

Lookbook Creation Time. These lookbook posts usually take like, 2 weeks to make because there’s a lot of stewing.

Dressing and Creativity. Many of us want, whether we know it or not, as it relates to fashion/getting dressed or not, whether it’s deeper, more shallow, or simply just here: a different path towards creative aliveness.

Blazer/Shirt Hybrid. This is like the perfect blazer/shirt jacket hybrid.

Cropped Blazer Recommendation. I think this cropped number is just aces; the metallic buttons really pop against the red.

Earth Tones Preference. I love the fun mix of them on this jacket.

Sleek Moto Jacket. A sleek moto shape for pairing with just about anything.

Double Breasted Deal. This double breasted cropped jacket looks way pricier than it is.

Polished Boucle Jacket. This is pretty much just a trucker jacket shape, but it looks so much more polished in boucle.

Stylish Leather Jacket. It's exactly right on this super-cute leather jacket.

Great for Dresses. This velvet jacket would be great for pairing with dresses.

2000s Chanel Feel. A tweed fringe sweater that feels pretty 2000s Chanel to me.

Elegant Wool Cashmere. This wool and cashmere option is endlessly elegant.

Blazers Unpopular. A surprising number of you find blazers problematic.

Slouchy Sweater Blazer. A nicely slouchy sweater blazer that also comes in black.

Affordable Jacket Option. I’m pleased that this under $100 option is so damned good.

Classic Iro Jacket. Iro's Shavani jacket is a classic in this category, and one that the brand brings back season after season.

Special Occasion Jacket. This gorgeous embroidered jacket is a bit of an investment, but it’s just the kind of special piece that can render an outfit party-worthy.

Cashmere Choices. I’ve been seeing (and liking) a lot of brushed cashmere this season and am thinking I might go for this crewneck because 1. It’s a bit oversized 2. It’s well-priced 3. It’s just an excellent grey.

Layering Essentials. I like the wide wale on this ever-so-slightly cropped jacket.

Sustainable Brands. At Cos, this supremely chic hooded duffle coat is 20%, like everything else on the site.

Corduroy Trends. I always like the idea of a poncho, and this turtleneck one hangs exactly perfectly.

Everlane Sale. Everything is 25% off until midnight tonight at Everlane.

Floral Prints. This is one of the most divine floral prints I’ve seen in a while—I love the coral pink mixed with darker, more unexpected colors.

Jenni Kayne Discount. Everything at Jenni Kayne is 20% off, but only through the 16th, so if you’re interested, do not delay.

Autumnal Favorites. This week, I’m digging autumnal shades, plentiful Friends & Family events, and lots (and lots!) of corduroy.

Cooking Preference. Roxane Gay's go-to dish is chicken Milanese, which she likes to enhance with cucumbers, soft herbs, fresh croutons, and her own vinaigrette.

Daily Coffee Ritual. Roxane Gay's morning ritual in L.A. includes getting coffee at Starbucks with her dog, who enjoys a pup cup.

Creative Cake Hobby. Roxane Gay's biggest hobby is cake decorating, and she made a 'milk and cookies cake' from the cookbook 'Icing on the Cake' for her friend's birthday.

Writer Collaboration. Roxane Gay and her wife, Debbie Millman, collaborated on a manifesto about love.

Paris Experience. Roxane Gay describes her lifelong dream of visiting Paris as met with delightful experiences, including incredible art and a lovely café culture.

Wine Choice. Roxane Gay serves wine from Brown Estate, a Black-owned winery in Napa, and recommends their fun red called 'Chaos Theory'.

Podcast Topics. Jenn and I are chatting about glute massages, the weird appearance of a teddy bear in my life, hot flashes, social skills, and a whole lot more.

Documentary Insight. I found it to be a quite poignant look at friendship in late middle age.

Unique Fashion Approach. There's no correct way to wear clothes, no way to interpret a trend that ever falls over more authentically than when you feel your way through it.

Personal Style Reflection. Paying attention a little more closely, this is what’s so special about the M's: their personal style reflects the breadth of lived-in lives.

Social Media Influencers. Two women who have recently been on my mind: Maryam Nassir Zadeh and Margherita Missoni. Both are quality social media follows.

Fashion Details. I keep thinking about how thirsty I am to locate then nibble into these tiny details, the weird fashion minutiae that is not planned or intended or even always identifiable.

Casual Fashion Vibes. Which for some reason reminds me of this necklace from Jujuvera. I still think about it a lot! Maybe I just want to dangle.

Instagram Discoveries. Encountered on Instagram this 'coming soon' footwear brand boasts such a sleek shape.

Jewelry Interest. The best thing I’ll show you all day are these earrings, straight from Greece, by Danai Gianneli.

Year of the Coat. I’m pretty sure it’s the year of the coat-as-part-of-the-outfit for no reason other than that every outfit these days feels a little better to me with something long over it.

Emerging Fashion Pieces. Fabric belts could be the next thing, see: this ruffle piece from Liberowe and Aflalo's 'Fenn.' We can probably thank Prada for this one.

Wardrobe Exploration. It takes the edge off of the forthcoming change... to return to the closet empty handed — rich only in ideas.

Seasonal Shopping Trends. This fall doesn’t feel as urgent or intense a shopping season as it has in recent years, which usually tells me the dust of a trend cycle is settling.

Read More Resource. Read more.

Perspective Shift. Perspective is often what is missing on a bad day, and this seems like one good tool for regaining it.

Reset the Bar. It’s about resetting the bar temporarily, and sometimes, you get to set the bar as low as you need.

Comfort in Music. Sometimes, I just want comfort, so I’ll listen to Steely Dan, or maybe some Brazilian Bossa Nova.

Mood-Based Music. Which one I play depends on how my mood is skewing: if I’m feeling depressive, I might play sad songs.

Spotify Playlists. I’ve got Spotify playlists just for crappy days.

Power of Music. The change in outlook is often instantaneous—music is a bit magic that way.

Use Daily Journals. I keep a daily journal where I have four columns... I always find is that the good outweighs the bad, every day.

Nix Self-Loathing. It’s so easy to allow ourselves to fall even deeper into a pit of frustration or despair by detailing our own failings to ourselves.

Accept Bad Days. They just do, and it’s really key to acknowledge that, and move on as best you can.

Dyson Blow Dryer Deals. If you’ve been considering it but still balk at the price, now’s a good time to go for it.

Instant Under-Eye Fix. I use Fake Awake, which fixes that problem in an instant.

Cute Ball Point Pen. This cute and diminutive ball point is just the best.

Travel-Friendly Underwear. On Gossamer mesh bikinis are my all-time favorite underwear and literally the only kind that is in my lingerie drawer at this point.

Delicate Hair Scrunchies. Silk scrunchies that are delicate on your hair.

Moth Storage Solution. Ever since my moth apocalypse, all of my sweaters now live in these storage bags, and so far, so good.

Favorite Body Wash. I swear by this body wash from one of my favorite stores of all time, C.O. Bigelow. It’s meant for men, but the subtly earthy smell is good for us ladies too.

Overdoing Redness. I like this redness correcting lotion, which—if anything—works a little too well.

Snail Mucin Benefits. A lot of people swear by the hydrating powers of this snail mucin, and I also think it’s helped me with redness.

Travel Wipes. These Bioderma wipes are so handy for travel.

Best Eye Drops. Trust me when I say I’ve tried all of the leading eye drops, and Lumify is the best of what’s out there.

Grey Hair Coverage. Color Wow brilliantly covers my grey between stylist appointments, and doesn’t go all Giuliani on me.

Affordable Mascara. I’m a recent convert, and can’t believe how long and clump-free it leaves my lashes, and how cheap it is—but it is marked down so much now that it’s practically free.

Everyday Essentials. I use this sale not to go for expensive electronics, but instead to stock up on everyday essentials, like this excellent anti-humidity hairspray that really works and doesn’t leave you feeling like you’ve got hairspray in your hair.

Cult Lip Balm. This cultishly popular Laneige lip balm has a nice, subtly rosy tint.

Labiaplasty Debate. Magdalene J. Taylor argues that labiaplasties do not grant power, authority, or rights on a societal level, stating, 'In reality, the only ones who benefit from this line of thinking are the makeup companies themselves.'

Cell-Cultured Immunity. Emily Daniel discusses how immunity has become commercialized, with products claiming to both fortify the immune system and serve beauty purposes, saying, 'One barrier-bolstering miracle product can act as a natural alternative to Botox and filler.'

Luxury Illusion. Alec Leach critiques luxury fashion as merely an illusion, stating, 'We also know that a huge price tag doesn’t guarantee a product has been made ethically.'

Taste in Fashion. Marlowe Granados argues that true taste is evident in one's surroundings, declaring, 'You recognize taste when you step into someone’s world and it feels like you’ve been transported.'

Bagmaxxing Phenomenon. Emily Kirkpatrick explores 'bagmaxxing,' stating, 'This sudden proliferation of high-fashion handbag accoutrement makes a lot of sense from a business perspective,' illustrating consumerism's influence in fashion.

Delusion in Reality. P.E. Moskowitz posits that social media creates a self-created reality, stating, 'We are not simply ignoring the truth, we are replacing it with a self-created one.'

Hygiene Perceptions. Patrick Nathan notes that beauty marketers have created an 'idealized asshole' standard, promoting the notion that only one type is acceptable, which he critiques as a relentless advertisement of perfection.

Collective Identities. Princess Babygirl states, 'Identities aren't solely our own. They are communally authored, shaped by a never-ending dialogue with the world,' emphasizing how the social internet influences self-perception.

Impact of Brazilian Wax. Emily Kirkpatrick suggests that a person's style of pubic hair is 'the absolute least of' what can ruin sex, asserting that there are 'a lot of things in this world that can and do ruin sex.'

Casual Sweater Choice. Just a good, fluffy crewneck sweater for throwing on instead of something black.

Unique Dress Features. This dress has some stuff going on that I typically don’t go for—a tiered skirt, for one, and also the puffy shoulders—but I find myself liking it.

Excitement Top. This is what we used to call an excitement top—the kind of piece you try on, and suddenly your whole outfit is aces.

Versatile Silk Skirt. A slinky silk skirt that I believe would be surprisingly versatile.

Denim Jacket Under $80. A very nice denim chore jacket from Gap that rings in just under $80.

Graphic Cotton Shirt. A slightly oversized cotton shirt with a cool, graphic print.

Fleece Jacket Mention. Like this fleece jacket, which is equal parts adorably cute and really chic.

Preferred Print Size. I prefer a larger print to a smaller one.

Leopard Print Trend. Leopard is a big trend this season.

Animal Print Trend. Animal prints have been circulating on the shoppable internet, including cow print slippers and various coats and skirts.

Creative Layering. Tucking a silk scarf into your outfit can add a surprising twist; consider wrapping it around the waist or even styling it in hair.

Accessorizing with Scarves. A silk scarf can be styled in creative ways, like tucking it into a crew neck sweater or wearing it as a belt overlaying other garments.

Chic Simplicity. A plain white t-shirt and flip flops are quintessential chill-out garments, making it effortless to go big with what remains.

Contrast in Outfits. The color scheme's subtlety gives leopard print a chance to feel like the jolt within an outfit.

Styling Leopard. If you want to try leopard as a main event, a mini dress will style well over trousers for a unique look.

Layering Effect. Layering clothes like a classic black t-shirt and mini skirt can create outfit formulas that feel living and playful.

Season's Key Items. The chief item among the season’s hits includes Swedish Stockings’ leopard tights, which can be styled in a variety of ways.

Leopard's Freshness. Something about leopard print feels fresh for the season due to the collective compass of personal style swaying towards less eventful clothes.

Leopard’s Omnipresence. Leopard is one of those trends that feel omnipresent — it’s never fully in, never fully out.

Cardigan Temptation. This cardigan is in my cart even as I type, and I'm so wildly tempted, even though it takes me slightly out of my comfort zone.

Layered Look Dress. I love a pre-styled garment, and therefore appreciate this dress, which provides an instant layered look without the bulkiness of layering.

Versatile Outerwear. A double breasted jacket that is an object lesson in why I repeatedly invest on outerwear—you can throw this on over whatever and suddenly look amazing.

Elegant Print. I always like a chain link print—it reads elegant—and this ruffleneck dress is the perfectly restrained palette for it.

Jeans Appreciation. I like these stovepipe jeans; they're slim-lined without being too skinny, and the slightly beaten-up black wash is really good.

Tweed Coat Appeal. This textured tweed coat is just impossibly great, and reminds me of peak Jenna Lyons J. Crew—stylish but also a touch cheeky.

Feminine Style. Such a sweet and feminine open lace stitch cardigan, in a very good blue.

Denim Shirt Search. I've been searching for the right denim shirt for ages—I basically want a classic button-down, just in denim—and this looks like it just might be the one.

Jacket Suggestion. A cute, kind of tomboyish suede jacket from Madewell that's a pretty perfect chocolate brown.

Color Preferences. I'm pretty sure if I did, I'd find out that I'm an autumn, which means that certain earth tones flatter me best.

Oribe Hair Spray Use. I go through a quarter can of Oribe dry texturizing spray every month.

Best Restaurant in LA. Antico Nuovo serves the best food in L.A.

Favorite Face Mist. I need Santa Maria Novella’s rose water face mist within arm’s reach at all times.

Stripes in Fashion. I’m very into stripes, both in fashion and home.

Creative Monthly Ritual. Once a month, I make a mood board the old-fashioned way.

Fall A-Z Excitement. I devour it every week, from start to finish. So many goodies, like fall things she’s excited about.

Must-Read Newsletter. Ali LaBelle's newsletter has been one of my must-reads since I first discovered it.

Denim Skirt Love. Earlier this week, Erika Veurink wrote about the denim skirt I’ve worn and loved for years.

Optimistic Show Spirit. Abbott is funny and warm and sometimes even slightly edgy without ever being mean, and has an optimistic spirit that fills my cold, dead heart.

Abbott Elementary. Set in a public Philly elementary school, Abbott follows the days of a group of school administrators, teachers, and other random staff.

TV Show Preferences. My husband likes to observe that I&#8217;m attracted to TV shows in which people treat each other horribly.

Fashion Month Wrap-Up. Fashion month just wrapped up this week; here&#8217;s a heaping dose of Paris street style for your Friday.

Read More. Read more about the Friday wrap-up.

Value of Regret. Regret can actually be a force, propulsing you to do better.

Recurring Regrets. Not a day goes by without me feeling regret of some manner or another, often because of something in the deep past.

Personal Regrets. I have said and done so many stupid things in my life that it’s truly impossible to keep track of them all.

Influential Monologue. In the movie Magnolia, Jason Robards’s character, on his deathbed, delivers a monologue to his night nurse about how atrociously he treated his first wife.

Color Preference. I like the mustard green of this set from Hawkins New York, but it comes in several other good shades too.

Sturdy Requirement. The main requirement is that they be sturdy.

Willingness to Spend. I don't want to spend a lot, but I'm willing to spend more than I want on something good.

Melamine Limitations. Melamine is another unbreakable option, though it can't go in the microwave.

Alternative to Breakables. Sometimes I think that the best thing to do altogether is to go for something enamel and therefore unbreakable.

Interior Contrast. I like the contrast here between the shiny interior and the more matte-looking exterior.

Unique Appeal. This sort of looks like a dog bowl, but weirdly, that’s what I like about it.

Classy Aesthetic. These milky colored glass bowls are subtle and pretty classic.

Unbreakable Choices. This latte bowl looks fairly unbreakable, and it comes in a ton of colors.

Frequent Breakage. In my household, we break a lot of dishes.

Design Comparison. I like that these sort of resemble much pricier pieces from Astier de Villatte.

Style Analysis Requirement. Matthieu Blazy is starting to feel so much like Miuccia Prada to me in that it takes like 3 deep dives into the collections to process them entirely.

Ease of Styling. Next one is stupidly easy.

Overall Look Representation. Tried to stay pretty loyal to the overall look by styling a plaid shirt under the khaki jacket.

Stubborn Plaid Popularity. The slight awkwardness of all the plaid prints that are becoming popular these days will make more sense.

Denim Alternatives. Would do with denim skirt and jeans instead.

Highlighting Good Handbags. Two such highlights from Letter #81’s good handbag report.

Flower Wrap Representation. Wrapped some flowers in the beaded Cordera bag to capture the spirit of the look’s weirdness the best way I could.

Peplum as Tableware. The peplum is the piece of tableware — it’s a runner that I folded in half and then pinned over the black tunic to create the cascade.

Prada's Styling Elements. The way I did it was slightly different, but still followed classic Prada code with: the stripes on the hat, the single breast coat, the combo of crochet and suede.

Styling Tradition. This story — a sort of shortlist of ways to reproduce good styling — has become something of a seasonal tradition.

September Excitement. Meanwhile in September, there’s a natural excitement blanketing life.

Inspiration Importance. Inspiration is so important to the creative process, huh? Without it, there’s no motivation.

Discount Tiers. If you spend $200 or more, you get 15% off; orders of $500 or more get 20% off, and if you go for over $800 worth of stuff, the discount is 25%.

Faux Shearling Jacket. A really pretty convincing-looking faux shearling jacket.

Desirable Sweater. I’m not sure how to relate to you how much I desire this cable knit half-zip sweater, but let’s just say it’s a lot.

Polished Loafers. This pair of loafers looks really polished, and at the same time satisfyingly chunky.

Minimalist Hobo Bag. I prefer a purse with little to no hardware, and this hobo bag is pretty much aces in that respect.

Chic Blazer. I dig the built-in knit cuffs on this chic blazer.

Ribbed Knit Dress. A fun little ribbed knit polo-collar dress in graphic black and white.

O-ring Belt Preference. I always like an O-ring belt, and I especially like the more oval shape of the buckle on this one.

Chelsea Boots. A solid pair of Chelsea boots with a nicely clunky sole.

Classic Camel Coat. An elegant, super clean-lined camel coat is never a bad idea.

Stylish Blazer. Check out Rag & Bone’s ever-popular Slade blazer, also available in this excellent (if a mite impractical) ecru.

Recommended Sweater. I found much to like, for example this oversized alpaca blend crewneck from Anine Bing, whose sweaters I’m a fan of.

Sale Exclusions. The sale is ostensibly site-wide, but there are an annoying number of exclusions.

Topics Discussed. Today we’re talking about: The Hole Debate, Renaissance Fair Fall, medieval fashion as a longing for pre-capitalist life, and hands as the hot new body part to hate.

Cultural Critique. The Review of Mess takes a critical look at the dregs of pop culture.

Skincare Trends. The episode discusses the importance of hand care, referencing multiple articles on the topic.

Kardashian Brand Issues. Kourtney Kardashian's Lemme brand is at risk amid a false advertising lawsuit.

Cultural References. The discussion includes homage at the VMAs, with Sabrina Carpenter as Madonna and Tate McRae as Britney.

Celebrity Fashion Analysis. Together, they dissect the biggest and dumbest celebrity happenings every month and give their unfiltered opinion on everything going on in the world of fashion and beauty.

Future Event. There's still time to join the waitlist for The Hole Debate.

Podcast Collaboration. The Review of Mess is a podcast collaboration between The Review of Beauty and I <3 Mess.

Variegated Stripes. A really cute specimen with cool variegated stripes and a super-graphic, slightly new wave-ish blue and black colorway.

Deep V-neck Preference. And finally, I always appreciate a deep V-neck.

Handmade Look. This cable knit is on the pricier side, but it almost looks handmade, and has such good details.

Boyfriend Sweater. I love a big huggy boyfriend sweater; perfect both for days you're lounging and days you're out and about.

Chic Sweater Jacket. Such a chic and lady-adjacent little sweater jacket from Alex Mill.

Cozy Appeal. This is just so excellently fuzzy and cozy-looking, and I like the grey.

Lightweight Cardigan. A fine knit cardigan that comes in several good, mostly earthy, shades.

Drape and Silhouette. I feel like this cashmere collared cardi would go with a lot and drapes really nicely.

Layering Suggestion. This sweet little pointelle sweater would be perfect to layer over a dress.

Color Variety. This striped cardi comes in a veritable ton of colors, and since it's from Universal Standard, a bumper crop of sizes too.

Quality of Cashmere. This chunky cashmere blend from Cos is 40% cashmere and 60% wool, but is so soft that you might be shocked to learn that.

Moth Impact. I'm still recovering from the moth apocalypse that killed most of my sweaters about a year ago.

Gisela's Favorites. Today’s issue features my friend Gisela Gueiros, an art educator who’s one of the most intellectually curious people I’ve ever met.

Multilingual Therapy. I do my therapy sessions on the phone while walking, but I speak in Portuguese.

Etsy Finds. I went down an Etsy rabbit hole searching for vintage cross-stitched napkins.

Glassware Preference. My best friend liked my drinking glasses so much, she asked me to bring a set back to Brazil.

Beauty Product. I swear by the Milk lip and cheek stick. It gives me such a healthy look.

Parenting Twins. A tip for parenting twins: I try not to refer to them as 'the twins.'

Late-night Parties. Parties also go much later with her Brazilian friends.

Cultural Differences. As for social differences, she says her Brazilian friends make themselves right at home.

Fashion Influences. The author expresses a strong desire for penny loafers with heels, indicating a trend in footwear preference.

Shopping Recommendations. The author recommends looking for Miu Miu penny loafers, available at a slight discount on various sites.

Cultural Engagement. Absorbing the nuances of culture in real life is noted to be much richer than online experiences.

Seasonal Change. Fall is described as a time for putting oneself back together and preparing for winter's need to bundle up.

Postpartum Perspective. The author notes a distortion in her vision and perception of fashion after becoming newly postpartum.

Personal Reflection. Making this newsletter feels more like a soulful, creative release than work, connecting the author to herself.

Recommendation. This reissue is available now for about $15, and I promise you it will be money well spent.

Iconic Style Guide. I discovered my mom’s copy of the iconic 1975 style guide Cheap Chic when I was a young teen, and it transfixed me.

Timeless Influence. I was amazed at how modern the women looked, and how pertinent the book still is.

Fashion Hand-off. I gave all my pairs to a fashionable 20 year-old of my acquaintance, not without some sadness.

Emotional Attachment. I still think of one truly perfect gold Rachel Comey pair with great affection.

Clog Expert. I was such a clog aficionado that I became a semi-expert on them, sought after for my insights into the best and coolest brands.

Product Recommendation. I discovered these clogs from a Danish brand called Magnafied—they have a rubber insert in the wood sole, giving them some flexibility.

Comfort Shift. I found that after walking around in clogs for an hour or so, my knees started bothering me.

Footwear Transition. There was a time when literally 90% of my footwear was clogs: clog sandals in the summer, clog boots in the winter, and traditional clogs the rest of the time.

First Year Celebration. We had fun celebrating Big Salad's first birthday and published a few exciting issues.

Reader Community Engagement. We received an astounding 3200+ comments on our giveaway of 13 favorite things.

Popular Candy Recommendations. Hershey's cookies 'n' creme bars minis taste better than the full-size ones, and I eat them by the handful.

Halloween Candy Preferences. I’m stocking up on Halloween Reese's, like ghosts, witches, bats, you name it. The chocolate-peanut-butter combo is better without the ridges.

Halloween Trick-or-Treating. In NYC, you sign up in the building's lobby to be a trick-or-treat apartment, so kids in the building know which doorbells to ring.

Bess Kalb's Memoir. I want to wholeheartedly recommend her memoir, Nobody Will Tell You This But Me. I laughed, I cried, it lingered.

Best Runner Source. I am searching for a runner for my front hall, and I have 10 bookmarked on Kilim.com - I forgot what an amazing source it is for all kinds of rugs.

Butternut Squash Salad. I tried this butternut squash orzo salad, and HOLY MOSES is it good. It's crunchy, tangy and sweet and full of nutrient-packed ingredients like kale and pumpkin seeds.

Favorite Things Giveaway. A giveaway of my 13 favorite things, including Sally Rooney's new novel, the perfect shoes, and vegetable candles is ongoing.

Parenting Tip Reflection. The parenting tip from Bess Kalb that I can't stop thinking about was shared.

Gisela Gueiros Discussion. Coming up this Friday, we're chatting with Gisela Gueiros about parenting twins and the best way to hang art at home.

TRT Prescription Growth. The 12-month total of dispensed prescriptions for testosterone in America surpassed 10 million in February.

Trauma and Weight. Kids these days are losing weight simply by releasing their trauma.

Hair Growth Funding. Hair growth brand Scandinavian Biolabs raised nearly $4.5M in Series A funding.

TRT Popularity. Millions of men across America, young and old, are shooting up testosterone the way the rest of us pop multivitamins.

Fall Fashion Wishlist. A shortlist of Fall wishes includes a variety of clothing items from different brands.

Family Life Dynamics. The transitions between work and home while we lived in Utah were difficult.

Vintage T-shirt Search. If you&#8217;re looking for one, there&#8217;s a specific search term you want to use.

Weekend Style Choices. I found this t-shirt and the jeans at [the vintage show,] Current Affair.

Fashion Inspiration Sources. I find a lot of it on Etsy &#8212; it&#8217;s an easy forum to use.

Importance of Community. Having a lot of sisters, I think, helped me view women not as threats but, in fact, as hopeful connections.

Parenting Challenges. I think the challenge of parenting is truly not losing your mind during that last hour with them.

Life Lessons from Religion. Eventually, I realized that I was practicing in the hope of protecting myself from pain instead of genuine faith.

Mormon Background. I grew up in California. My family is Mormon, and the only college my parents would pay for was in Utah.

Parental Bonding Activity. On the walk, we play the movie game (I give them clues about a movie and they have to guess which one I&#8217;m thinking about).

Clothing Categories. I separate whatever clothes I&#8217;m working with into categories of what is aspirational, what&#8217;s practical and what&#8217;s straightforwardly affordable.

Creative Surge Inspiration. Sometimes I just get on the train &#8212; so much of my inspiration comes from riding the train.

Morning Routine Timing. My day starts at 6 a.m., the arrangement I have with [my husband,] Wyatt is that he gets the kids ready for school.

Finding Vintage Items. I like to start later on the pages because less people are going that deep into the archive.

Unique Tee Dress. I just kind of love this tee dress for not being black, which most of them are.

Washable Silk. I’ll probably go for this washable silk henley; I like to wear silk tops in the cooler months, and this one would be great peeking out from under a blazer.

Cashmere Polo. A cute cashmere polo sweater that I want in every color.

Quilted Liner. A quilted liner for wearing on its own or—for extra coziness—under a long coat.

Fall Perfection. Everlane’s ever-popular Barrel pant in corduroy: fall perfection.

Oversized Blazer. An oversized wool blazer, for those of you who prefer an oversized blazer.

Perfect Topcoat. I have wanted a clean-lined topcoat for a while now, and this one is just about perfect.

Chic Sweater. A chic and slouchy henley sweater made of wool and recycled cashmere.

Modern Silhouette. Another good coat with a really modern (and pricey-looking!) silhouette.

Minimalist Mac Coat. This Mac coat is a favorite of mine because I don’t like all the adornments on most trenches (flaps, epaulets, etc), and this is just so minimal and clean.

Extended Sizing. I especially like the fact that they’ve extended their sizing up to 16, which is a step in the right direction.

Everlane Basics. Everlane is, to me, what Gap was in the 90s: a consistently good source of basics, decently priced and better-constructed than you might expect.

Chic Leather Skirt. Here’s a leather skirt that I find endlessly chic, and that I think would come in quite handy when you’ve got to dress nice but it’s cold out.

Leather Jeans Trend. Is it time to get into leather jeans again? I’m thinking maybe yes, and I like the slouchy fit of this pair.

Oversized Denim Shirt. And finally, I’d wear this oversized denim shirt as a light jacket.

Gold Button Cardigan. I’m a sucker for a gold button, and I love the way they make this wool blend cardigan stand out.

Tweedy Wool Blazer. This wool blazer is so tweedy and back-to-school stylish.

Stylish Lace-Up Shoes. I am so in love with my new lace-up shoes from an Italian brand called Sturlini that I had not previously heard of.

Premium Sneakers. Most of the time I firmly believe that anything over $150 is too much to pay for sneakers but these were the absolutely perfect grey suede that I’d been searching for.

New Corduroys. I ordered these corduroys mere minutes ago: I like the slim-but-not-too-slim cut, the green/brown shade, and the cropped length.

Elegant Georgette Shirt. Such an elegant georgette shirt—with one of the best leopard prints I’ve seen in a while.

Event Details. The event takes place at 7pm on October 3 at Duane Park in NYC.

Engaged Audience. Over 14,000 responded to the anonymous Pubic Hair Poll in April.

Diverse Discussion Topics. 'The Hole Debate' will feature conversations about LABIAPLASTY, ANAL CARE, BRAZILIAN WAXES, and VAGINAL WELLNESS.

Beauty Discourse. 'The Hole Debate' will be our public forum for any and all hole-related beauty discourse.

Butthole Beauty. The industry has given us the 'Bidet Bar', 'Hole Serum', anal Botox, MyBum wipes, and more.

In-Person Experience. This newsletter's first-ever in-person experience is 'The Hole Debate', part of Substack's Stacked Debate series.

Floral Print Dress. The graphic floral print on this cotton dress is really winning, and I like the bracelet sleeves and deep neckline too.

Corduroy Shirtdress. This corduroy one is too good not to include.

Cashmere Sweater Dress. A cashmere sweater dress from Quince that's just a really good length, and a little bit sexy.

Dark Floral Dress. I brake for a good dark floral, and this one is on a very wearable shape, for pretty cheap.

Leopard Print Dress. A really rather sweet leopard print from J. Crew.

Wool Maxi Dress. The scarf detail on this wool maxi from Cos is kind of Margiela-ish: edgy but also elegant.

Chic Ruching. The ruching at the torso here is so chic and flattering—I could see wearing this to a multitude of occasions and am so annoyed it's sold out in my size.

Reader Support. This newsletter is reader-supported, and we are always grateful for everyone who reads, shares, and comments.

Comfortable Bedding. I like all the colors and fabrics, but white sateen feels extra good when slipping into bed with freshly shaved legs and a gripping book.

Collaborative Lamp. Clare V. and Schoolhouse Electric just collaborated on a home collection, and I’m into this playful little lamp.

Splurge on Loafers. Jamie Haller loafers are a major splurge, but they’re best in class, so since this is a giveaway, I’m including them!

Unique Candle Scent. This tomato candle smells like a freshly picked tomato straight out of the garden.

High-Quality Sweaters. I’ve worn babaà sweaters, designed by my friend Marta in Spain, ever since discovering them in 2014. They’re heirloom quality, and I treasure the idea of passing them down to children and grandchildren.

Giveaway Announcement. We are also doing a big anniversary giveaway, where one lucky reader will win all 13 things, featured below.

First Live Event. On October 3rd, I&#8217;m hosting my first-ever live event in NYC.

Event Focus. This one-night only event will feature ~fiery~ conversations about LABIAPLASTY (is it empowering?), ANAL CARE (neurotic or necessary?), BRAZI…

Priority Access. Today, paid subscribers get priority access to (free) tickets.

.

Bag Evaluation. Call it a viable (and perhaps more conceptual) alternative to the bag I was hooting and howling about towards the end of the summer from Rabanne.

Luxury Canvas Tote. A luxury rendering of something like a canvas tote can look rich by using the best quality without being insane about how you price it.

Tote Bag Utility. A tote is ideal for a farmer's market/grocery store run.

Layering Options. The structure and material do a good job hardening a look that might feel too soft.

Structured Clutch Desire. I'm suddenly hell-bent on a rigid black, slightly shiny leather clutch. Preferably long and a little bit narrow.

Clutch Preferences. The other bag-style my outfits have been craving is a very specific kind of structured clutch that plays on the same motif.

Bag Necessities. Something big enough to carry all my possessions (wallet, phone, school ID, journal; pack of gum and maybe a small bottle of water) but fine enough to polish off a casual non-outfit.

Fashion Month Influence. It is also that time of year (fashion month, new season, all-around back to school) when everything feels so fresh.

Affordable Luxury. None of the bags have retailed for more than $1,100 with the exception of the Hermes bolide that started it all.

Handbag Trends. It's surprising to find because I’ve done a pretty good job avoiding the need for a handbag over the course of my career as 'a professional dresser'.

Read More Link.

Party Dress Regret. In my twenties, I used to buy loads of party dresses...and there would be some degree of hell to pay.

Consider Your Lifestyle. I learned to not attach my less-than-glam lifestyle to my decidedly more glam wardrobe, and saved a whole lot of cash.

Try On With Shoes. Always try on clothes with shoes; I&#8217;m frequently surprised by how many people don&#8217;t know or do this.

Shopping Guidelines. What follows here are guidelines I&#8217;ve figured out&#8212;and learned the hard way to set&#8212;over years and years and years of trial and error.

Closet Purge Dread. I&#8217;m about to do a closet purge, which I never don&#8217;t dread because it forces me to confront the shopping mishaps I&#8217;ve had in the past&#8212;and sometimes, the very recent past.

Live Stream Announcement. We&#8217;re excited to host our first-ever live stream TOMORROW on the Substack app.

Engaging Topics. Come hang with writer Erika Veurink and me as we dig into friendships, dating, marriage, sex, and embarrassing stories.

Download Requirement. To join us, simply download the Substack app ahead of time.

App Accessibility. Get more from Joanna Goddard in the Substack app, available for iOS and Android.

Exclusive Content. This issue will land in paid subscribers&#8217; inboxes on Friday, and it&#8217;s going to be good.

Anniversary Celebration. We&#8217;re celebrating one year of Big Salad by offering a huge giveaway of my 12 favorite things.

Subscriber Participation. This talk is for all subscribers, both free and paid.

Graphic Zig-Zag Stripes. The zig-zaggy yellow and black stripes on this polo neck are so graphic and fun, and I dig the hit of orange at the collar.

Affordable Cotton Option. A cute cotton number for not a lot of cash.

Cute Wool-Cashmere. And finally, a cute wool-cashmere option that I would reach for on repeat.

Wine Shade Mock-Neck. And I like the wine shade on this mock-neck too.

Understatedly Chic Colors. The combination of colors here is just really understatedly chic.

Fun Cropped Number. The variegated stripes on this slightly cropped number are a fun touch.

Cool Striped Sweaters. There are few things as tomboyishly cool as a good striped sweater, and there are a lot of good ones on offer right now.

Luxe Cotton-Cashmere. This Alex Mill cardi is made of a luxe-feeling cotton-cashmere blend, and I dig that the buttons go all the way to the top.

Oversized Trend. An oversized specimen in brown, a color I have traditionally loathed but am beginning to like.

French Vibe Cardigan. The shoulder buttons on this one from Everlane endow it with a decidedly French vibe.

Supportive Family. My amazing teen daughter was my main encouragement during my weakest days – she loves it.

Read More. Click through to read the whole thing.

Marketing Strategies. The Status Anxiety-inspired marketing campaign we went with? Images of young, thin models in expensive-looking dresses and the tagline, 'Guaranteed to get compliments.'

Self-Identity Challenges. Our sense of identity is held captive by the judgments of those we live among.

Silver Sisters Movement. More recently, the Silver Sisters movement has emerged to help women embrace going gray.

Historical Context. In her 1980 book The Cancer Journals, Audre Lorde wrote about how the pressure to 'whiten your teeth, cover up your smells, color your gray hair and iron out your wrinkles' turns women into 'decorative machines of consumer function'.

Ageism Awareness. Challenging the ageist appearance standards that earn us (women, primarily) the outside approval we crave is necessary.

Reality of Approval. Not really... your desire for 'outside approval' is a common human condition.

Beauty Industry Tactics. Lately, the beauty industry has been leaning extra-hard into the people-will-like-you-if-you-use-this-product technique.

Cultural Pressure. Your desire to be complimented... is only natural. It's also ripe for capitalization.

External Validation. It made me realize how much I relied on outside feedback for confidence.

Personal Transformation. Tired of a 2-to-3 hour, $100 hair appointment every three to four weeks, I stopped covering my gray with dark brown dye.

Longevity of Chelsea Boots. I feel like most of us have had one pair or another of these in our closets for decades.

Snappy Style. I like the longer shaft and cap toe on this snappy pair.

Fashiony Choices. These are a bit more fashiony than I usually show.

Affordable Madewell Choice. This pair from Madewell mines a similar vein for cheaper.

Footwear for Comfort. If neuromas, bunions, or some other middle-aged foot maladies don’t prevent you from wearing pointy-toe boots, you could do worse than these.

Insulated Pair Preference. I also like this insulated pair for the chillier months.

Image Details. This pair manages to look clunky and polished at the same time.

Investment Worthiness. A nicely streamlined pair that’s maybe worth the investment.

Streamlined Design. From Vince, the ideal streamlined tomboy shape, with a bit of a platform sole.

Fashionable Options. I do think they’re cool.

Shopping Consideration. Common sense almost always prevents me from buying suede, but suede doesn’t help matters by being so cool-looking.

Blundstones Durability. I quite literally wore mine into the ground and ended up resoling them with Vibram soles and now they’re unstoppable.

Pre-Fall Dressing. Pre-fall dressing takes place now during the peak of 'Pretend it's an Editorial' weather.

Flattering Silhouettes. Structured tops are becoming a prominent trend, as showcased in the spring 2024 shows.

Conversion Potential. The deep-V style can both conceal or create a waistline, making it a practical choice.

Practical Dress. An extremely practical black silk dress can be worn for various occasions, including an event at a child's school or a job with a stringent dress code.

Convertible Styles. Sheer clothes are still in rotation, but it’s essential to think about layering them effectively.

Lightweight Coats. Make sure your coats are lightweight enough to appease the pinning and tucking.

Skillful Layering. Layering is important because the days start cool but progressively warm up, requiring layers that are convertible enough to tie around the waist or stuff in a bag.

Summer Hits Integration. The principal dressing rule for postpartum dressing is to take your best hits from the past season and update them with complements you could not wear during that season.

Fall Excitement. The reason professional dressers get so excited to dress for the fall is because it comes after a two-month break from actually getting dressed.

Knitwear Designer. I’m a big fan of UK-based knitwear designer Jo Gordon; her pieces are so colorful and happy.

Sweater Jacket. J. Crew’s textured lady sweater jacket rings in at under $200, and is just as cute as pricier iterations from fancier brands.

Polo Neck Sweater. A snappy polo neck sweater that goes for just under $50.

Faux Fur Toggle Coat. If I hadn’t already splurged on a fall jacket, I would go for this amazing faux fur toggle coat from Kule in a flash.

Harlow Pant. It’s Madewell’s ever-popular Harlow pant, denim edition, and I’m intrigued.

Affordable Button-Downs. I am always on the lookout for good button-downs under $100, and this one seems pretty cute and crisp.

Fingerless Gloves. I also ordered these fingerless gloves, the color combination of which I am enchanted by.

Luxury Cashmere. The texture of this brushed cashmere cardi from Cos is so luxe, and the shade is a really pretty perfect grey.

Chic Leopard Print. Sezane has got quite a few I’m coveting, including this chic collarless leopard print number.

Trending Jackets. It's still kind of soon to be craving heavier jackets, but there are so many good ones out there right now.

Anniversary Celebration. Big Salad is celebrating its first birthday, marking a year since its first issue.

Most Clicked Recommendations. The newsletter featured several highly clicked recommendations, including cheap drinking glasses and lightweight pajamas.

Reader Favorites. Readers shared their favorite things, such as icebreakers and romantic TV shows, showcasing the engagement of the community.

Samantha Irby's Message. In the comedy issue, Samantha Irby encouraged unapologetic enjoyment of one's preferences, regardless of others' opinions.

Life Advice. Some interviewees shared life advice, emphasizing the importance of being a helper and embracing simplicity during anxious moments.

Home Decor Recommendations. Simone Kitchens suggested beautiful home decor items, including HAY jugs and Noguchi lamps.

Preference Journey. Ashley C. Ford discussed the challenges of figuring out preferences and how naming them brings her joy.

Interview Highlights. This year, Big Salad published over 30 interviews featuring various personalities sharing preferences and life advice.

Consent Reminder. A date shared how he emphasized 'enthusiastic consent' during a moment at her home, which made her feel hopeful.

Ideal Partner Description. Joanna described her ideal partner in three words: kind, enthusiastic, and funny.

Insightful Reader Comments. Readers leave insightful comments, such as the attractiveness evaluation based on profile pictures.

Open Writing Space. The paywall allows for more open writing about personal experiences like dating in her 40s without concerns of being discovered by family.

Reader Engagement. Readers described the newsletter as 'intimate and comforting after a long week' and 'like spending time with good friends.'

Giveaway Plans. A huge giveaway of favorite things will be featured in the anniversary issue landing in paid subscribers' inboxes on September 20th.

Live Chat Event. Next week, a live chat for paid subscribers is scheduled on Thursday, September 19th.

Alaia Show Gravitas. Alaia’s show this season showcased significant gravitas, enhanced by the setting at The Guggenheim.

Soeur Clutch Asset. Soeur's clutch is praised for its leather stiffness and shine, ideal for completing a more languid look.

Aflalo NYC Launch. Yael Aflalo's new brand 'Aflalo' will focus on ideally shaped cashmere knits and uniquely tailored overcoats, launching later this month.

Maryam Nassir Zadeh Collaboration. Maryam Nassir Zadeh's collaboration with Ba&sh features eye-catching leopard prints.

Khaki Fashion Pairing. Khaki is noted as an ideal foil to metallic, rhinestone, or sequin accents.

Fluid Undergarment Trend. Fluid underthings remain popular, with styles like delicate mini skirts under structured tops seen this season.

Blazer Shape Changes. Blazers are changing shape, getting shorter and fitting well with low rise straight leg pants.

Trans-Seasonal Outfit. An easily replicable, trans-seasonal outfit includes a lightweight black jacket and pants, a navy tunic, sleek sunglasses, and a masculine gold ring.

Low Rise Pant Revival. The shape of pants is leaning towards low rise, evident at brands like Tory Burch and Sandy Liang.

Long Over Pants Trend. We’re wearing long things over pants again, with a more whimsical feel, exemplified by crochet details over sheer pants at Khaite.

Irving Penn Portraits. These Irving Penn portraits of people in various trades, from 1950, are just asto...

NY Fashion Week. It was fashion week here in New York, and here’s some not-entirely-wackadoo street style for you to enjoy.

Top Winona Ryder Roles. On the occasion of the Beetlejuice sequel, here are the 20 best Winona Ryder roles, ranked.

Related Post. Read more

Engagement Invitation. You know the drill: ask whatever questions your heart desires in the comments, and I'll answer them there.

Classic Dinnerware. I'm so tempted by this classic Heller dinnerware set, perfect for dining outdoors because it's made of unbreakable melamine.

Attractive Dog Bowl. A more-attractive-than-it-needs-to-be dog bowl.

Stylish Dog Bed. A fun color block dog bed that looks nice and cozy.

Elegant Menorah. Maybe the most elegant menorah I've ever seen.

Clash of Styles. I also kind of adore these brilliantly clashy bookends from Tom Dixon.

Cheerful Bookends. A quartet of bright and happy mismatched bookends.

Reasonable Pricing. This wall clock from Hay is a bit more utilitarian, and a lot more reasonably priced than the Nelson one.

Classic Ball Clock. This classic midcentury Nelson ball clock, which I've never seen on sale, is still not cheap but might be worth it.

Ironic Name. Design Within Reach has one of the more ironic names ever, because so much of what's on offer is—decidedly out of reach for most of us.

Deals on Decor. I found some decent deals by searching for smaller decor items instead of furniture.

Fun Dot-Print Blanket. This cute and graphic dot-print blanket would be perfect for mixing and matching patterns.

Affordable Cashmere. Just a nicely slouchy cashmere V-neck cardi for not a ton of cash.

Sharp Ponte Blazer. And finally, a very sharp ponte blazer.

Feminine Dress. Such a pretty, feminine dress.

Relaxed Oversized Sweatshirt. A cool, oversized sweatshirt, for lounging about.

Adorable Sweater Vest. I have been wanting a knit sweater vest, and this cashmere one is just adorable.

Chic Striped Shirt. Such a chic and easy striped shirt.

Rugby Shirt Trend. This triple fleece popover henley looks a lot like a rugby shirt, which I understand to be a big trend this fall.

Perception of Value. A nicely chunky turtleneck sweater that looks like it costs more than it does.

Herringbone Pattern. Especially the cool herringbone pattern.

Emerald Green Trend. I think is both fresh and less-than-predictable this time of year.

High Maintenance Paradox. I think the goal or point of this trend...is to be 'high maintenance' or 'ugly' when theoretically no one is looking: at night...in order to appear 'low maintenance' and effortlessly beautiful when theoretically people are looking.

Toxicity of Trends. The problem is, the skin does need a lot in order to meet the unreasonable standard of beauty we're held to today.

Skin Routine Issues. Interview any dermatologist...and they will tell you the best thing you can do for your skin is simplify your routine.

Beauty Culture Impact. Beauty culture is pushing it forward—beauty culture being this sort of ambient but all-consuming societal force that compels us to focus on being as beautiful as possible at all times.

Commodification of Sleep. The merging of the beauty and wellness industries is part of this, too.

Viral Videos. There are 75,000,000 videos like this on TikTok alone.

Morning Shed Trend. Sara Radin explores the morning shed: 'a new trend signifying our morbid desire to be perpetually hot.'

Charming Amsterdam. What a gloriously charming city Amsterdam is; we had such a great time there, and walked all over, to neighborhoods beyond the (always lovely) tourist quarter, which was cool.

Purchasing Strategy. I always pick up a tube or two when I’m in Europe, because it’s a good bit pricier here.

Tommy's Boutique Visit. I was on my way somewhere else when I saw the Khasto storefront, the window of which was full of the most gorgeous textiles, many of them block prints.

Shopping in Amsterdam. One shopping rule I like to follow when traveling is that I don’t go to any store we have in the U.S., because where’s the thrill of discovery in that?

Picky Incense Preference. I’m picky, picky, picky about incense, and this stuff clears the bar.

Design Philosophy. The clothes remind me of old-school Agnes B or A.P.C., back when both of those brands were really good: classic, menswearish pieces with an often feminine twist.

High-Quality Apparel Investment. I don’t spend this kind of money on clothes too often anymore, maybe twice a year.

Rika Studios Discovery. I first discovered Rika Studios about 12 years ago, on a trip I took with my mom.

Shipping Delay Concern. I don’t know what the holdup is on them shipping to the U.S. (or opening a few stores here while they’re at it; it truly seems like a no-brainer).

Positive Arket Experience. This time around, I arrived in time to find the store stocked with brand spanking new fall clothes, and found much to love.

Bess Kalb Feature. I was lucky enough to meet humor writer Bess Kalb at a dinner party last spring.

Non-Toxic Makeup. I swear by the non-toxic Olio e Osso stick in a watermelon-y pink shade.

Cozy Sweater Choice. You can’t do better than a men’s L.L. Bean cotton fisherman sweater — they’re really cozy.

Ilana Kohn's Impact. As a Brooklyn mom, I love Ilana Kohn; she’s the gateway drug to Eileen Fisher.

Bad Sisters Anticipation. I can’t wait for Bad Sisters Season 2 (November 13th).

Upcoming Event. This month, we’ll be celebrating the one-year anniversary of Big Salad with a live virtual event.

Grudge Report Popularity. Her most popular Grudge Report newsletter issue was called 'Some Recipes to Make When You Lose Your Bodily Autonomy'.

Humor Writing Advice. Bess Kalb advised, 'Have something very upsetting happen to you, then, instead of processing it, deflect with jokes.'

Dinner at Pilot. Last night, I met my friends Liv and Ryan for dinner at Pilot, a boat in Brooklyn that doubles as an oyster bar.

Originality Plea. There's a chance beauty brands will be featured in 'demure' round ups by digital titles, but this trend is laden with unoriginality and risks scarring a brand.

Cosmetic Surgery Language. The language around cosmetic surgery is dumbed down to make it feel like a relaxing facial, despite it involving invasive procedures.

Facelift Age Concern. Stars are feeling the pressure to get facelifts at 43, which is a lot younger than most surgeons would generally advise.

Exhausted Consumers. Beauty brands are stuck in the loop of thinking social media is real life and that everyone gives a shit, when they really don’t.

Dolly Parton's Impact. Dolly Parton has defied societal expectations and beauty standards to march to her own beat in a male-dominated, ageist music industry.

Celebrity Brand Critique. So few celebrity beauty brands feel genuine and more often they feel like a ploy to extract hard-earned cash from fans in a way that feels genuinely exploitative.

Labor Experience. The arc of the pain starts on low then ascends over hours into what can be described as these high-peak and steep, frequent slopes.

Finding Peace. It is a tender reminder that there can be peace within the most honest and vulnerable moments of fury.

Maternal Connection. At one point during labor, I could feel my maternal grandmother and an echo of women that felt like a cascading shadow by my bedside.

Pain's Duality. There’s a poeticism about pain; when you slow down to it, you can feel its texture and hear its moan.

Style Note. No pants/bottoms (except for jeans) feel right these days unless they’re lowwwwww rise.

Layering Trend. This long sleeve tissue tee from Lovechild 1979 should be worn with layers over.

Cultural Shift. I think we’re entering our butterfly era.

Favorite Author. The book I’d been reading (August Blue) by Deborah Levy reminded me why she’s one of my favorite authors.

Season's Closure. I hope you had a fantastic close-out to your summer.

Invitation for Recommendations. Please share more recommendations here, if you haven’t yet.

Notice of Light Posting. If I do post this week, it will be pretty lightly, but I’ll be back here on the regular Monday the 9th.

Travel to Amsterdam. By the time you read this, I will be in Amsterdam—thanks to all of you who wrote in with recommendations of things to see, do, buy, and eat.

Brand Collaborations. Auntie Anne's and Hellman's Mayo have both launched perfumes.

Tom Cruise PR. The podcast explores Tom Cruise's new PR strategy.

Cosmetic Innovations. A cosmetic chemist provides insights on swapping conditioner for hair masks.

Blake Lively's Backlash. A deep-dive into the Blake Lively Blake-lash is featured in the podcast.

Fetish Porn Strategy. Fetish porn is discussed as a PR strategy.

Skincare Trends. The episode mentions the 'sploogification' of skincare.

Jessica DeFino's Influence. Jessica DeFino's newsletter 'The Review of Beauty' has been called 'the beauty industry fears'.

Emily Kirkpatrick's Work. Emily Kirkpatrick is recognized as the creator of 'I <3 Mess', a weekly roundup of celebrity fashion.

Cultural Critique. The Review of Mess podcast takes a critical look at pop culture.

Fellow Discount. Coffee-centric site Fellow is offering 15% off most everything.

Madewell Extra Discount. Madewell is offering an extra 40% off sale items, and 25% off select fall essentials.

Jenni Kayne Discount. At Jenni Kayne, everything is 20% off, making this an excellent opportunity to nab some of her excellent knitwear.

Athleta Fall Sale. Fall items are 25% off at Athleta; I’m tempted by these comfy-looking high-rise pants.

Ban.do Discount. The goods at Ban.do are 25% off sitewide; I always find cute things I want.

Uniqlo Popular Bag. Various items are marked down at Uniqlo, including this virally popular drawstring bag.

Brooklinen Discount. At Brooklinen, everything is 25% off; I recently acquired this cushy waffle robe, and love it.

Crate & Barrel Sale. Discounts at Crate & Barrel are up to 60%—I love these chic planters.

Rifle Paper Gifts. Rifle Paper is offering up to 50% off, a good moment to stock up on small gifts.

Dusen Dusen Sale. Dusen Dusen is having a sample sale, with discounts up to 70% off.

Everlane Discount. At Everlane, everything is 25% off, and I'm considering a few shirts.

Great Jones Offer. Great Jones is offering 25% off everything; this ceramic casserole dish is cute.

Anthro Sale. They’re offering 25% off designer denim and 40% off select home items at Anthro.

Travel with Produce. Kate Berry is notorious for bringing an extra bag for fresh produce on trips, such as cherries from Michigan and grapefruits from L.A.

Read More. For more details, refer to the article at the following link:

Beautiful Coffee Table Books. Berry has two coffee table books she loves, titled '(Nothing but) Flowers' and 'The Land Gardeners: Cut Flowers.'

Versatile Lighting. Berry uses a portable table lamp instead of the overhead light in her kitchen, stating it looks 'really chic.'

Favorite Summer Spot. Berry loves visiting Michigan during cherry season and describes the locals as 'the nicest people I’ve ever met.'

Garden in the Sky. Kate Berry mentioned, 'Our apartment is on the 16th floor, so we have a garden in the sky.'

Dreamy Bookshop. I want to live at this idyllic bookshop in Tuscany.

Nostalgic Artifacts. These photos of vintage cassette tapes are such a fun nostalgia jolt.

Future Predictions. What the future—specifically, 2024—looked like in 1974. Some predictions came true, and others, not so much, but this is all-in-all fascinating.

Glass Skin Trend. The trend of glass skin, as claimed by a PR email, is still prevalent, with over one billion Google search results.

Real Skin Texture. Skin is not supposed to be glass; it always has texture and pores, and sometimes has acne and oil slicks.

Digital Influence. In an increasingly virtual world, everything we see is behind a shiny glass screen, creating a barrier and fostering self-objectification.

Self-Objectification. The pursuit of glass skin is an age-old pressure to look like a Barbie doll, updated for modern times.

Injury Indicator. A waxy, glassy, shiny forehead is incorrectly associated with a 'glow,' which it is not; it is the sign of injury.

Communication from Skin. I’ve come to think of pimples as communications from my body, alerting me to what it needs.

Pores Significance. Pores are outgoing channels for sebum and sweat, the skin's natural highlighter-slash-moisturizer and the body’s temperature regulator, respectively.

Importance of Dead Skin. Dead skin cells serve an important biological purpose as part of the all-important skin barrier and store Natural Moisturizing Factors.

Beauty Standards Impact. Glass skin is a physical impossibility, and as such, the path to Windexed perfection is paved with products that always need to be repurchased.

Glory of Glass Skin. The aesthetically inclined have been glorifying glass skin for a while, since 2017 at least—long enough that the K-beauty creation is no longer a beauty trend but a beauty standard.

Unfulfilled Aspirations. I might even get a boyfriend. None of this happened, by the way.

Teenage Influence. From the time I was a teenager, I knew I wanted to work in magazines.

Desire for Acceptance. I wanted to be perfectly, evenly tan like the girls in Hawaiian Tropic ads; as softly approachable as the girls in those (really creepy in retrospect) Love’s Baby Soft ads.

Fashion Issue Timing. Seventeen’s big fall fashion issue wasn’t a September issue but an August one.

Impact of Magazines. This thorny dichotomy in my brain—between being inspired by magazines but made to feel inferior when my life didn’t measure up to them—would last for years.

Magazines and Aspirations. I was endlessly inspired by Seventeen too, and subscribing made me feel vaguely as though I was a member of a club that probably wouldn’t have me as a member if they knew me.

Childhood Memories. Its eventual arrival was always a highlight of my summer.

Event Future Plans. We were thinking maybe a reader talent show???

Reader Engagement. Our first and favorite reader question was, 'Do you want to be my friend?' to which everyone's resounding answer was, 'Yes!'

Conversation Themes. Kate and I chatted about everything from parenting advice to orgasms to female friendship.

Gretchen Yanover's Performance. Her music is warm and meditative and infused with light.

Special Experiences. Something we love about live events is getting to see readers, friends and colleagues in one place.

Event Highlights. Perhaps our favorite thing this month was heading to Seattle for a Big Salad live event with poet Kate Baer.

Local Delicacies. We enjoyed delicious desserts from Molly Moon of Molly Moon's Ice Cream and Robin Wehl Martin of Hello Robin Cookies.

Event Popularity. All 570 tickets sold out quickly, which is wild!

Monthly Issues Published. We've published four issues this month.

Popular Links. Here are the month’s most popular links.

Event Photo Credits. Event photos by Dorothée Brand of Belathée Photography.

Capsule of Advice. My go-to dive bar is Loretta's. Don't tell too many people, though, because I get grumpy when I can't snap my corner stool!

Seattle Recommendations. We asked a few friends for their Seattle recs, so here are some great places to eat, shop, and hang out.

Upcoming Events. We can't wait for more events.

Utility Cart for Bar. I’d use this utility cart to set up a bar, which is a vague goal of mine.

Old-School Side Table. An old-school telephone table that would work great as a sofa side table.

Marked Down Table Lamp. I’m seriously considering going for this table lamp now that it’s marked down.

Perfect Color Match. This blue/green floral quilt would be perfect for my bedroom, as I have a large photograph in those shades hanging on the wall.

Modern Bed Design. This bed—inspired by early 20th-century iron bedsteads—looks so modern in blue.

Cheery Dining Table. I need a new dining table rather urgently, and I’ve had my eye on this one for a while now. The bright legs make it so cheery.

Utility Stool. A cute little utility stool for the kitchen or wherever.

Colorful Aesthetic. There is so much good stuff at Schoolhouse—I can really get with their colorful, happy, midcentury-ish aesthetic.

Exciting Sale. None of what’s on offer is especially cheap, which is why this sale is so exciting.

Clever Drying Rack. This wall mounted clothes drying rack is one of the cleverest things I’ve seen in a while.

Aesthetically Pleasing Dish. A classic Dansk casserole dish that’s just really aesthetically pleasing.

Favorite Mascara. Milk Makeup&#8217;s Kush mascara volumizes like nobody&#8217;s business and is my favorite mascara of the moment by far.

Travel Packing. I&#8217;m off to Amsterdam on Saturday for six days, and&#8212;as usual&#8212;am already preoccupied with what to pack in my cosmetic bag.

Miniature Preferences. I just really like a good mini, like this Sol De Janeiro body wash, which has the best caramel-ish scent.

Makeup Setting Spray. Urban Decay All Nighter is maybe the best makeup-setting spray I&#8217;ve tried.

Wrinkle Release. This Downy Wrinkle Release, which I now employ on suitcase-wrinkled clothes instead of a steamer.

Tinted Balm. This tinted lip balm isn&#8217;t technically a mini, but it&#8217;s pretty diminutive, and imparts a nice hit of sheer color.

Travel Razor. This Gillete Venus mini is just the cutest.

Makeup Removal. This Bioderma micellar water gets all your makeup off, and doesn&#8217;t dry out skin in the process.

Sunscreen Tint. It has the perfect tint for my skin tone.

Hand Sanitizer. It seems like a good idea to travel with hand sanitizer again, and this one has the most delightful (and relaxing) lavender scent.

Travel Brush. A diminutive travel brush that detangles so gently.

Dollcore Aesthetic. DeFino discusses the 'dollcore' aesthetic in beauty and its implications, appearing in an article for Highsnobiety.

Human Features. DeFino points out that pores, texture, and wrinkles are not problems but basic human features, emphasizing, 'We do not need science to save us from pores, texture, or wrinkles.'

Clinically Proven Warning. Sara Radin warns, 'Don’t fall for clinically proven beauty products,' highlighting that the medicalisation of beauty standards can promote unattainable ideals.

Perception Drift. DeFino states, 'When a particular beauty trend or beauty standard becomes the norm, it can affect our perception of ourselves,' a phenomenon known as 'perception drift.'

Vulnerable Demographic. There is a concern about how easy it is to convince a vulnerable demographic suffering from a lack of medical research to buy more wrinkle-reducing moisturizer.

Naomi Watts' Book. Naomi Watts is writing a book: Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause.

Bringing Versatile Shirts. I’ll be bringing two of this, my favorite button-down, from the brand Cali Dreaming.

Ideal Personal Item Bag. My personal item bag will be the Luka Duffel from Calpak—an ideal bag, with plenty of pockets, a shoe compartment, and an appealingly puffy design.

Best No-Show Socks. These are the best no-show socks I’ve found—the material is substantial, and they don’t slip.

Essential Scarf. I never travel without my silk and cashmere scarf from Chan Luu—it’s the perfect combination of lightweight and warm.

Silk Tee Preference. A washable stretch silk tee that doesn’t look like the most exciting piece, but that I think I’ll wear on repeat.

Comfortable Plane Pants. I found a pair of Maria Cornejo jersey pants on the Real Real, and they’ll be pretty perfect for the plane.

Summer Dress Choice. For warmer days, I’ll bring my perfect, and deeply flattering Universal Standard Shirt Dress.

Color Palette Strategy. My main packing rule... is to stick to a tight color palette, so everything goes with everything else.

Packing for Cooler Weather. It’s going to be a touch cooler there—lows in the high 50s, going up to the 70s—and so I’m packing accordingly.

Traveling to Netherlands. My husband Paul has work in the Netherlands, and I’m tagging along.

Podcast Transcript. here's the transcript.

Playlist Creation. We also made a playlist of songs about exes that we hope you enjoy.

Unexpected Encounter. One Friday, I walked in [to the pottery studio], and my ex-boyfriend was there on a date. He'd never even done pottery before.

Heartbreak Reflection. 20 years later, I’m happily sitting at my breakfast table with my husband and two kids not talking about the Merchant of Venice.

Podcast on Exes. In this podcast episode, I chat with my ex-boyfriend Colby, and funny friend, Ziva; and a Big Salad reader recounts a hilarious run-in with her ex at the airport.

Source Link. Read more.

Community Engagement. As always, please share your own stories in the comments — we would LOVE to hear.

Vivian Maier's Impact. Her work was discovered in 2007, and now she is considered one of the great photographers of the 20th century.

Fragrance Market Growth. Both the premium and mass markets saw double-digit growth year-on-year in 2023, and today, the global sector is worth an estimated $68.9 billion.

New Scent Release. Tory Burch released a new scent this week: Sublime.

Per Capita Contribution. In terms of per capita revenue, that means every person on the planet contributed $8.74 in 2024.

Celebrity Influence. These numbers are thanks, in part, to consumer perception of fragrance as well as investments in the space from celebrities.

Philosophical References. The name Sublime references what philosophers Immanuel Kant and Edmund Burke considered the height of aesthetic experience.

Scent and Emotion. Smell is the only one of the five senses that bypasses the thalamus, interacting with the 'reptilian' brain structures of the hippocampus and amygdala, which are associated with emotion and memory.

Perfume's Unique Aspect. Scientists have only recently begun to realize how complex smell is—far more complex than vision, and more intimately connected to the brain.

Kantian Sublime. Kant also described the sublime as 'a negative pleasure,' referencing Burke's explanation of it as being grounded in 'fear ... a pain ... a kind of pleasing horror, a certain tranquility that is mixed with terror.'

Nostalgia in Fragrance. Plenty of popular scents bank on that bittersweet pain of longing for the past, of calling up a memory that calls up your mortality.

Perfume and Self-Interest. These selling points are not disinterested, but self-interested.

Limitless Experience. A spritz can transport you through time and stir your feelings in a way that sometimes seems 'limitless.'

Scent and Understanding. If anything in this scenario can be considered sublime, it’s the ability to understand what fragrance does to us.

Transcendence through Scent. Knowing aromas provoke emotion, realizing the capacity for transcendence is located in the mind.

Critique on Commercialization. To take the inward experience of scent and turn it back outward toward a collection of mass-produced bottles is to negate its sublimity.

Writing Improvement. If you do it for years, you get better at it, for sure.

Writing Challenges. The actual act of writing still presents a lot of the same challenges as it did when I started.

Read More. For additional insights, read more at the provided link.

Clothing Allowance Impact. I had a magical thing called a clothing allowance: a not-ungenerous amount of money, replenished annually, that meant I could basically expense my clothes.

Mindful Acquisition. I no longer possess the same bottomless desire to acquire apparel that I once did, but sometimes an item comes along that I know I have to have in order for my wardrobe to continue to make sense.

Shift in Spending Habits. These days, I buy a lot less, and I spend more carefully: on Nili Lotan-ish pants that are actually from Madewell, or Maria Cornejo coats sourced from the Real Real.

Value in Cost-per-Wear. It's not the most exciting splurge in the world, but it's one I know will perform exceptionally well on the cost-per-wear front, and that's the best kind of splurge of all.

Cashmere Sweater Purchase. Most recently it was this cashmere sweater from Organic by John Patrick, a brand I love for its knitwear.

Cute Gingham. And finally, how delightfully cute is this gingham option?

Quality Red. It’s not always easy to locate a truly good red, and this is a good red.

Subtle Chic. The tuxedo details here are quite subtly chic.

Layering Option. A cute poplin popover for wearing on its own now, and under a blazer later.

Busty Fit. I feel like this one from Universal Standard would be especially good for the busty among us—the brand always seems to do a good job at that.

Versatile Shirt. A crisp striped colorblock shirt that rings in at just a hair over $75.

Half-Tucked Style. An oversized option that would look good half-tucked—a styling trick that seems to have fallen out of favor, but which I still like.

Crisp Style Preference. I like the preppy crispness of this one from Everlane.

Feminine Touch. The ruffle details here don’t overwhelm, but instead are a nice, feminine touch.

Cultural Reflections. The industry’s animation of the non-human says something about its in-animation of us.

Dog-centric Fashion. Dolce & Gabbana introduced Féfée, an 'elegant dog perfume,' while Vogue published a series of 'Dogue' covers featuring dogs in place of models.

Objectification Trends. The beauty industry encourages literal objectification with dehumanizing ideals: glass skin, glazed donut skin, Barbie arms, and Barbie labia.

Consumer Product Integration. A recent collaboration from skincare brand Dr. Loretta and clothing brand LESET features a monogrammed shirt designed to hold sunscreen, with 'SPF' embroidered instead of initials.

Shelf Identification. Is it shelf-identification that makes us believe inanimate storage units deserve serums of their very own?

New Beauty Products. In 2022, actress Courtney Cox launched Homecourt, a line of dish soaps, surface cleaners, and candles, described as 'beauty products for the home.'

Personification Concept. Lately I wonder if our objectification is proven by its inverse — the personification of objects.

Trend Observation. We asked 10 friends to share their fall uniforms and noticed a fun trend.

Long-Wearing Pieces. Somsack Sikhounmuong stated he will be wearing his outfit on the subway to work all season, highlighting that each piece has been worn over and over.

Personal Style. Ashley C. Ford mentioned her fall uniform includes a combination of Target items and personal accessories.

Transition to Fall. As the weather cools, we're also looking forward to apple cider and wool sweaters.

Postpartum Outfit Reflection. It inclined my own going for it, never mind the hurrah; this dress from Natori is the same color, but this silhouette feels more wearable.

Leopard Print Trend. Leopard print’s 'back.' A story on leopard print surfaces every season as a trend 'clawing back' for [insert every year here], but this go around, it feels less like a condition of clothing and more like an overwhelming forthcoming fall trend.

Silk over Poplin. Part two of the above is that silk shirts will eclipse poplin shirts.

Chloe's Fall 2024 Collection. The reason our nightgown-as-dress era is coming in so hard and fast is totally because of Chloe's fall 2024 collection, which was met by pretty unanimous editorial (and consumer) praise.

Postpartum Fashion. The tube seems like it can get me deeper into the upcoming seasons.

Ralph Lauren Partnership. I partnered with Ralph Lauren last week on 2 back to school Instagram posts.

Aritzia's Basic Quality. Aritzia really does make the best basics. It’s a function of the breadth of the styles.

Explore More Links. Read more.

New Book Started. I just started reading An Hone…

Edifying Pelosi Interview. I found this interview with Nancy Pelosi to be quite edifying. The piece is by New Yorker editor in chief David Remnick, who pulls few punches.

Jamie Lee Curtis Interview. A fun, quick Q&A with Jamie Lee Curtis.

Cate Blanchett's Best Roles. The 40 best Cate Blanchett performances—here she is in Bob Dylan drag in the brilliant 2007 Todd Haynes movie I'm Not There.

Podcast Guest. We had a guest on the podcast earlier this year who talked about energy v…

Rights to Move On. Still, you might be well within your rights to make this move.

Toxic Friendship. I don’t think there’s a truly gentle way to do this—bailing on a friendship is always going to seem at least a little like an aggressive act.

Racial Body Image. Light is feminine in the western mind and dark is masculine, and that binary logic tends to hold serious implications for Black and other ethnic women.

Maternal Mortality Issue. Considering all this, and considering that Black women in America are almost three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.

Cosmetic Growth Area. I predict foot beautification will be a major growth area for the cosmetic industry this year.

Fetishization of Feet. Americans are searching for foot fetish-related search terms nearly 1.5m times per month on average.

Historical Foot-Binding. The practice involved bandaging prepubescent girls’ feet tightly enough to stunt their growth and change their shape, so that they’d stay small forever.

Gendered Standards. To be a good girl or a good woman, then – in the gender essentialist sense – is to be as tiny as possible.

Body Image Culture. Beauty culture does! From the moment of our birth – literally – it trains us to find phantom flaws in our physical selves.

Fear of Judgment. During my second pregnancy, I was even afraid to get emergency treatment for preeclampsia because I wasn’t strong enough to DIY a pedicure.

Foot Self-Image. At 12, I became self-conscious about my feet. They were size 10 – bigger than most girls’ – and my toes were dark and rough.

Daily Sunscreen Habit. This sunscreen is not too heavy and goes on sheer but lightly tinted.

Platform Sandals Choice. I can’t believe I was ever on the fence about going for these platform Birkenstocks.

Light Summer Scent. Bum Bum Cream absorbs in a flash and smells like a dream, which makes it suitable for summer.

Effective Mascara. Better Than Sex is such an annoying name for a mascara, but it *is* a really good mascara.

Silk Scrunchie Preference. I like these silk ones though, because they're a lot thinner than your typical scrunchie, and the silk means they're easy on your hair.

Chub Rub Solution. This stuff combats the dreaded chub rub, and I am impossibly devoted to it.

Comfort and Style. It's astonishingly lightweight—especially for leather—and really stylish, and has just gotten better as it has aged.

Lightweight Weekender. This Clare V weekender has, at this point, more than paid for itself.

Favorite New Frames. I wasn't sure they worked on me, but it's a few weeks later and they've become my new favorite pair.

Year-Round Sunglasses. Sunglasses are essential for me year-round—I’m quite light-sensitive—and they’re especially so during the summer.

Typical Attire. The tableau of trends featured an overwhelming number of practical shoes.

Dressing Style. At worst, the market was an afterthought, so in the clothes, you get nothing intentional.

Market Experience. There’s a subtle bustle about open-air food shopping that makes the experience, no matter how it plays out, a little more delectable.

Wednesday Activity. Wednesday is when the market is biggest, when the most vendors come from their farms and sell the best of what they’ve got to what is probably their most sought-after clientele: the chefs of New York.

Styling Trends. The market's open on Saturday too, but the dressing cues are less direct.

Visit Recommendations. To understand what makes an outfit for the market unique to it, it’s best to pay three separate visits on: a Monday, a Wednesday, and a Friday.

Market Vibe. There's a tender quiet about the farmer's market if you can get there early enough on a summer morning.

Comfortable Footwear. One thing I have been very aware of: the shoes are always comfortable.

Food Connection. The reason we attend the market at all is because we yearn for good food.

In-Between Fashion. In-between dressing was practically invented at the farmer's market.

Wide Leg Trousers. Wide leg trousers like these and a wedge heel or a bit of a boot, and you’ve got legs for days.

Travel Pant Suggestion. This stretch crepe pair comes in a veritable ton of (mostly muted) shades, and seems like it would be an ideal travel pant.

Army-Style Pants. I dig the tapering on these cool army-style pants from Banana Republic where, btw, I’m finding a number of good things lately, for the first time in a while.

Faux Leather Evolution. Faux leather pants feel like one of those items, not unlike clogs, that used to be trendy but have evolved into classics.

Chic Harlow Pant. Madewell’s eternally popular (and very chic) Harlow pant has an updated fit, which is intriguing.

Utility Pant Preference. Everlane’s Utility Pant comes in a few good iterations, but I like this straight leg one best.

Comfortable Pants Search. I’ve been on the lookout for pants that not only look becoming, but achieve a high level of comfortableness as well.

Jeans Realization. I came to accept that maybe the reason why I was having such a tough time finding flattering jeans is because jeans don’t actually flatter me anymore—or at least not right now.

Chinos Availability. A well-priced pair of chinos in a fun blue is available, with options in black and olive green too.

Versatile Shirtdress. A snappy and versatile little shirtdress.

Retro Vibe. This has a slightly retroish vibe that I appreciate.

Smocked-Front Dress. A cool smocked-front dress with a very flattering silhouette.

Summery Frock. Just a fun and very summery frock from Farm Rio.

Pintucked Details. The pintucked details at the waist make this one standout.

Loud Tiered Dress. The print on this tiered dress is loud, it's true, but I think it's loud in a really good way, and I love the blue and brown color combo.

Cotton Twill Dress. An easy cotton twill shirt dress that goes for just a hair under $50.

Faux Wrap Dress. I don't love the belt they've styled this faux wrap dress with, but I do really like the fun print, and I think it drapes really nicely.

Polka Dot Dress. This fairly splurgy polka dot number is nicely feminine but far from prissy.

Underlining Fashion Choices. If it’s not going to be a sheer dress, it will be something that looks like (or is!) lingerie.

Sheer Clothing Trends. The best options for what to wear as the underpinnings. Black is the easiest option but lately I'm craving big white cotton underwear and a matching triangle bra.

Accessorizing Simplicity. To offset the lack of hardware on all the clothes we’re wearing is with a bag made entirely of chain.

Trend Acknowledgment. Are we returning to a C&C California/Michael Stars era style period?

Online Style Influence. I came across Michelle Phanh’s Substack last weekend. She made a post about what her friends wore at a beach town in Connecticut.

Clothing Exploration. Maybe I have no expectations this year, or maybe new markers of style are landing in a refreshing place or it could just be that I’m just poking my nose into relatively different corners.

Bittersweet Anticipation. The feeling is bittersweet. Right now, for example, I'm sitting at my desk with a cube of ice in my mouth and I can feel her elbow or knee or whatever joint it is pushing up against the top of my left-side ribcage.

Paradox of Motherhood. It is an irreconcilable paradox that cannot be solved, should not try to be solved. It just is.

Ukrainian Fashion Emergence. To my point about sheer, you know who else started making clothes is the Ukrainian jewelry brand that makes the silver shell comb.

Discover More. Deb reveals 10 surprises and delights, including her most popular recipe and a dreamy vacation spot for kids.

Movie Nostalgia. Deb described "Dirty Dancing" as the perfect summer movie, sharing her enduring affection for the film since the 1980s.

Ballet Experience. Deb expressed admiration for the ballet "Like Water for Chocolate," complimenting its execution and representation of performers.

Crunchy Snack Importance. Deb emphasized serving crunchy snacks like potato chips to keep guests satisfied if dinner isn't ready immediately.

Drink Station Setup. Deb advised making a drink station with glasses and beverages to prevent guests from needing to search for drinks.

Guest Welcoming Rules. Deb's first rule for welcoming guests is to "clear your coat rack and shoe area" for an easier experience.

Summer Menu Highlights. Deb mentioned a summer menu that includes a simple tomato salad, Green angel hair pasta, braised chickpeas with burrata, and salted peach caramel crisp.

Fantasy Dinner Guests. Deb suggested inviting Simone Biles and Suni Lee to her ideal dinner party due to their openness about pressure and their impressive achievements.

Italian Dinner Mode. Deb Perelman stated, "Every summer, I go into Italian mode," highlighting the seasonal shift in culinary focus.

Celebrity Encounter. Deb humorously shared an experience of unknowingly taking pictures near Sofia Coppola, showcasing the charm of celebrity sightings.

Iconic Album Covers. The stories behind six iconic album cover shots, and how to recreate them.

Olympic Athletes' Bling. Olympic athletes and their bling.

Greatest Sports Movies. The 50 greatest sports movies of all time.

Satisfying Contrast. The look combines a straight-up towel skirt with a self-made silk top, making it quite satisfying to wear due to the contrast.

Trend Immortality Query. Can a trend become immortal?

Versatility of Scarves. You can wear the most no-brainer, unimpressionable but still comfortable and good-looking separates south-of-neck.

Silk Scarf Dimensions. Dimensions of the scarf I used for this look are 28 by 28 inches.

Stylish Flexibility. The vibe of styling is to be flexible and creative with your wardrobe, embodying an effortless, comfortable summer style.

Concealing Blousiness. I recommend tucking your halter into something to conceal the blousiness — a little of this is good but you don’t want a puddle of silk down your front.

Accessorizing Tips. Combine a few shiny metal pieces for an impact on the look without overdoing it.

Ambitious Halter Top. Last look now — a pretty ambitious halter top, which is probably the easiest to make: knot around neck, knot around waist.

Scarf as Top. Here we are at the penultimate look, where the silk scarf has been reimagined as a top, basically that cool vintage thing that Megan O’Neill wears to drop her son off at daycare.

Scarf as Cummerbund. This is one way to hold your waist, or just add a new dynamic to the middle of your look that isn’t as literal (or physically hard) as a belt.

Farmers Market Outfit. Charlie noted that this is an ideal farmers market outfit, capturing exactly what I’m trying to get at: style at ease.

Headband Utility. If you have silkier hair, it stays put with less effort this way but the styling principle works regardless of what kind of scarf you choose.

Silk Scarf Usage. The silk scarf can serve as a versatile style accessory, being worn as a headband, cummerbund, or top.

Work Commitment. I had been out of the office for so long that this notion was unthinkable to me.

Return to Work. The situation was shaky when I returned to New York, just as summer was beginning.

Office Move. We had moved offices, from the eighth floor of 4 Times Square to a roomer space on the sixth.

Mood Swings. The Lamictal was evening me out, but I was still capable of pretty abrupt mood swings.

New Office Feelings. This alone unhinged me, and I would feel myself get agitated or excited and try to calm myself down.

Read More Link. For further insights, visit the original source.

Delusional Request. I should become a fashion correspondent for The Daily Show, and could she try and make that happen?

Guest Bathroom Towels. If I had a guest bathroom, and perhaps some day I will, I’d stock it with these Turkish tassel towels.

Indoor/Outdoor Pillow. An indoor/outdoor pillow that comes in a few good shades; I’m partial to this yellow, of course.

Chic Kitchen Towels. These chic kitchen towels come in such a delightful range of colors and stripe iterations.

Striped Towels. Dusen Dusen can always be relied upon to offer a good striped towel or two, and I’m especially fond of these bright and happy ones.

Tonal Stripes Bowls. And finally, I dig the subtle tonal stripes on these bowls.

Bath Mat Love. Also from Dusen Dusen: this cool bath mat, which is loitering in my shopping cart even as I type.

Fun Pouf. Such a graphic and fun little pouf.

Side Table Statement. A small side table like this can make a pretty big statement.

Pleasing Mug Design. There’s something so pleasing to me about the shape of this mug—it looks like you could warm your hands on it.

Botox in Politics. Cosmetic dermatology is on the rise in Washington, D.C.

Consumer Skepticism. I’d like to propose that Victoria Beckham is the scammer everyone thinks J. Lo is.

Victoria Beckham's Launch. Based on the launch of FeatherBrow from Victoria Beckham Beauty, I’d like to propose that Victoria Beckham is the scammer everyone thinks J. Lo is.

Beauty as Ethical Ideal. Has anyone articulated beauty as an ethical ideal better than comedian Alan Resnick?

Projecting Strength. Nonsurgical procedures like Botox can be a way of projecting strength and health as a leader.

Ugly Republicans Ad. A new commercial from Democratic group Won't PAC Down portrays MAGA Republicans who want to limit access to abortion, birth control, and IVF as conventionally ugly.

Women's Appearance Focus. I wonder if what’s happening right now goes beyond that — if the message it sends is that beauty should be an interest for all; that no woman, no matter her achievements, is exempt from the feminine duty to perform it.

Athlete Compensation Issues. What about when Olympic athletes aren’t paid for the time and effort they put into their craft?

Beauty vs. Performance. What happens when a female boxer’s performance in the ring isn’t matched by her performance of femininity?

Pressure on Female Athletes. Culturally, we’re at a point where optimization for athletics isn’t enough — where the pressure to optimize never ends.

Self-Optimization Debate. I argued against self-optimization on the basis that what we call self is often appearance, and what we call optimization is often an unrealistic and oppressive ideal of perfection that is not useful to the project of human flourishing.

Travel Preparation. I’m heading to Amsterdam in early September, so am obviously already thinking about what I’ll bring with me.

Aversion to Cowboy Boots. I find myself actually pretty tempted by these cowboy boots, which are nicely subdued and yes, even cool.

Denim Pants Comfort. These denim pants look like slouchy perfection, and I appreciate that they have belt loops.

Stylish Sneakers. I’m so totally sold on the excellent color combination on this sneaker.

Quality Striped Shirt. Just a really good striped button-down shirt to add to my menagerie of striped shirts.

Clean Denim Appeal. I just love how un-distressed the denim on this jacket is, and the starchy clean silhouette is appealing too.

Versatile Dress. I’d wear this cute bandana print dress on its own now, and with boots, tights, and a cardigan later.

Summer Sale Items. Shopping-wise, it’s a weird time of year: summer clothes are mostly on sale, and fall stuff has yet to really arrive.

Track Pants Choice. For the latter I’m considering this classic pair of Adidas track pants.

Lightweight Bomber. A really smart linen cotton cropped bomber that’s appealingly lightweight.

Practical Fashion Tip. Using a scarf can effectively cover flaws in garments, such as an open zipper on a skirt.

Layering Techniques. Using a scarf can conceal drawstrings or tight lines, making for a more polished outfit.

Reinvent the Skirt. Silk scarves can make an often-worn skirt feel different or new.

Transforming Outfits. A scarf can transform a look rather than just adding to it.

Scarf Size Impact. The size of the scarf is ultimately up to you; smaller scarves work well with cropped or untucked shirts.

Creative Solutions. Scarves can provide creative solutions for styling challenges such as needing a belt to cup a belly.

Color Addition. Using a scarf can add an element of color to an all-black or neutral ensemble.

Maternity Dressing Tip. For pregnant women, a scarf can help when wanting to wear an item that still looks okay but doesn’t actually fit.

Concealment Technique. Scarves can cup the bottom of your belly so whatever you’re wearing doesn’t flare out unintentionally.

Embellish Casual Looks. Adding a scarf can bring an element of whimsy to a simple, casual look.

Outfit Enhancement. A silk scarf can break up the monotony of a one-and-done dress or blouse it as a way to give it more character.

Silk Scarf Utility. A silk scarf can conceal a camel toe, FUPA, bad pant/skirt waist line, zippers that won’t close or which just should not be shown.

Referencing Other Styles. Jenny Walton published a series of 20 ways to style a silk scarf.

Versatile Accessory. A silk scarf can serve multiple functions in a wardrobe, from practical coverage to style enhancement.

Everlane Discount Offer. Everlane's sale works as follows: spend over $200 and get 20% off your purchase, or spend over $300 and get 30%.

Striped Duvet Cover. I've wanted this striped duvet cover forever, and just might go for it now.

Bright Cotton Coverlet. A bright and happy cotton coverlet.

Schoolhouse Lamp. Home brand Schoolhouse has marked down many tempting items, starting with this fun, poppy table lamp.

Universal Standard Sale. Over at Universal Standard, a ton of really good pieces are going for just $25, though available sizes are scant.

Classic Scoopneck Swimsuit. A scoopneck swimsuit that couldn't be a lot more classic.

Versatile Cashmere Cardigan. This cashmere patch pocket cardigan comes in a few arguably more versatile colors, but I like this forest-y green.

Sophisticated Barn Jacket. This barn jacket is made of crinkle nylon, which gives it a more sophisticated look.

Cool Gauze Popover. An easy and cool—both literally and figuratively—gauze popover.

Smocking Sundress. I really dig the smocking and adorable strawberry print on this sweet sundress.

Perfect Weight Jacket. This textured cotton lady jacket looks like it's the perfect weight for the transitional weather we'll be having soon.

Versatile Linen Skirt. A cute and deeply versatile linen slip skirt.

J.Crew Sale Item. At J. Crew, I'm thinking about going for this stretch linen blazer—it looks really smart in this off-white.

Shopping Strategy. I created a secret Pinterest board called ‘Should I Buy This?’ My rule is that an item has to live there for at least two weeks before I make a purchase.

Multipurpose T-shirt. Their trash tee is made with 100% post-industrial cotton waste, and the slightly longer sleeve and overall length are perfect.

eBay Purchases. I’m a big eBay-er, and in high school, my first eBay purchases were original film posters.

Unique Design Book. Actually useful coffee table book: How to Live With Objects is a cool take on a design book that features stories of people’s spaces that help you become an intentional collector of objects that speak to you.

Ice Cream Walks. Best way to end the day: Take an after-dinner ice cream walk. My husband, Dave, and I live on the border of Fishtown and Kensington, and there are seven ice cream shops within a 15-minute walk.

Philly Travel Recommendations. Here, Shannon shares 12 great things, including her Philly travel recs and what she’s packing for her Paris honeymoon.

Creative Curiosity. Shannon Maldonado stated, 'I’ve always been a very curious person, I Google the hell out of anything I find interesting.'

Weekend Plans. I’m going to the North Fork with some friends, and we’re thinking about watching Thelma about a 93-year-old trying to track down a con artist who scammed her.

Drugstore Favorite. I’ve used CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion since I was a teenager. The brush is really easy to wrap around your eyelashes to get that curled look.

Community Connections. Five ways to make community connections.

TV Preview. A look at the best of what's on TV this month.

Olympics Notable Moments. And here are some notable moments from the Olympics so far.

Olympic Sketches. 17 classic SNL sketches about the Olympics.

Cheating in Older Women. Why more women over 50 are cheating.

Iconic Beauty in France. A look at France's iconic beauty Marianne, and the women who have portrayed her over the years.

Cultural Priorities. Culturally, we do not prioritize deep feeling, or a full experience of life. We prioritize status and aestheticizing our lives.

Reduced Sexual Function. One study... found Botox treatment was associated with both reduced emotional recognition and reduced sexual function.

Existential Consequences. With industrialized beauty, we sort of have to do the cost-benefit analysis of economic status vs. existential consequences.

Aesthetic vs Emotional. Neurotoxins like Botox are often marketed as a sort of mental health measure... yet so little of the critique against Botox is focused on the fact that it’s also perpetuating a particular standard of beauty.

Beauty Culture Focus. The communication piece does not apply to the average person’s reason for wanting or getting Botox. It’s a purely aesthetic pursuit.

Microexpressions Role. Microexpressions and mirroring are forms of unconscious, nonverbal communication... helping us feel for others, and understand what other people are feeling.

Impact on Emotions. Neuromodulators like Botox... change the way we connect and communicate with others — even reducing our capacity to feel empathy.

Botox and Romantic Connection. There are a lot of statistics that show loneliness is on the rise, that people are feeling very disconnected from each other.

Further Reading. Read more about the experience at the provided link.

Facility Description. The whole place looked like a slightly sterile but decent bed and breakfast, only with a nurse's station.

Room Impressions. The unit I was on was quite nice. A social worker greeted me and showed me my room—it was big, with a TV and DVD player.

Historic Location. It was a beautiful old hospital with a history—Fitzgerald finished Tender is the Night in Baltimore, while Zelda convalesced there.

Travel Experience. The drive to Baltimore went by fast—when you're in no hurry to get to your destination, the trip always goes quickly.

Finding Love Post-Divorce. I found someone lovely. Thank you so much for providing a safe space to talk about this stuff.

Music and Memories. The first record I ever bought was Andy Gibb’s 'Love Is Thicker than Water'. It cost 95 cents, and I was nine.

Catherine Newman's Influence. What a relief it is to hear 'this part of parenting is my favorite' from anyone with kids older than me. It helps me unclench.

Readers' Engagement. Here are the three top links Big Salad readers clicked on this month: Joanna's best beauty buy of the year, Catherine Newman’s favorite drinking glasses in the world, and the work pants so comfortable that Chanel Miller wears them in every color.

Discount Offer. We’re also offering a 20% off discount on subscriptions this week.

Chanel Miller Favorites. Chanel Miller told us about her favorite pants of all time, hilarious things kids say, and the life advice Oprah gave her directly.

Catherine Newman Joys. Catherine Newman revealed 12 things for a joyful life, including icy swims and Paul Rudd.

Scentbird CEO. Scentbird CEO noted, 'I'd be surprised if my investors knew,' and that they 'know my character.'

Consumer Trends Report. The podcast referenced 'Consumer Trends: 2024 Mid-Year Report' from The New Consumer.

Lily Allen's Content. Lily Allen launched an OnlyFans page to sell feet pictures.

Lil Mama's Lipgloss. Lil Mama debuted her first-ever lipgloss line called 'It's Poppin'.

Demi Lovato's Song. Demi Lovato released a (very catchy) song for haircare brand OGX.

Podcast Collaboration. The Review of Mess is a podcast collaboration between The Review of Beauty (by Jessica DeFino) and I <3 Mess (a fashion newsletter from Emily Kirkpatrick).

Working from Home. When I get home from drop off, I get to work. If I have to go into the city for an in-person meeting, I’ll usually schedule it in the morning so I can go right from drop off.

Casually Polished Look. Casually polished—what does dressing professionally even mean these days?

Dressing for Meetings. I guess I just like looking a little more crisp for a meeting.

Collaborative Work Environment. I don’t get lonely even though I’m writing a lot because Goop is a multi-media business. It’s such a collaborative job—so many brainstorms and projects.

Mindful Living Choices. I switched back to regular milk like 2 months ago mostly because I don’t think inflammation is necessarily a real threat for me with dairy.

Coffee Preference. From both places, I’ll get a cappuccino and they both actually give me a cappuccino. I really hate it when other places ask if I want it big or small.

Summer Dressing Preference. I love dressing for summer—I love how the sun feels on my skin. The more of my body exposed, the better.

Monty's Daycare Drop-off. The look works particularly because the way Monty’s daycare is set up is that I have to carry a stroller down to the basement and my stroller is a behemoth Bugaboo.

Breakfast Shake. I have a shake of avocado, banana, peanut butter and coconut water made for Monty [my 11-month old]. Lagos loves it too.

Morning Routine Juice. Every day the thing that gets me going is I drink 2 glasses of this green juice that I juice the night before, it’s with celery, kale, spinach, cucumber, parsley, romaine lettuce and 3 green apples.

Perfect Skirt. It&#8217;s got simple lines, a bit of stretch, trouser styling, and the ability to pair with just about any top.

Unique Shirt. A henley tee that manages to be tomboyish and sexy at the same time.

Stylish Cardigan. This knit cardigan resembles far pricier ones from the French brand Ba&amp;sh.

Un-Distressed Jeans. I really dig that these straight jeans are so delightfully un-distressed.

Good Details. So many good details on this sweet embroidered shirt&#8212;I don&#8217;t even mind the puffy sleeves because the puffiness does not originate at the shoulder.

Versatile Dress. A subtly glamorous watercolor print dress that&#8217;ll be as good in the fall as it will be right now.

Fashion Recommendation. These knotted gold sandals are about as fabulous as flats get.

Color Appreciation. I&#8217;m really beginning to appreciate the color green.

Tour Update. I am joining my husband Paul for the final leg of his tour today.

Gentle Parenting Reminder. As a perfectionist, I beat myself up for EVERYTHING.

Substack Favorites. I love newsletters by Emily Sundberg, Hunter Harris, Adam Roberts, and others.

Favorite Jewelry Brand. Catbird, always and forever.

Delicious Pre-Dinner Snack. A tray with Hudson Valley Camembert and figs and crackers and cornichons was delicious.

Recommended Books. Reading great books — like Samantha Irby’s comedy or Kate Baer’s poetry — make me feel simultaneously calm and energized.

Inspiration from Nature. I take a walk or bike ride or just generally head out into the world. 'Touch grass,' as TikTokers would say.

Weekly Discount Offered. We’re also offering a 20% off discount this week.

500 Questions Received. We received more than 500 questions.

Documentary Trailer. The trailer for this Elizabeth Taylor doc looks pr&#8230;

Memoir Update. I&#8217;ll definitely be sharing more of my memoir on Thursday, though, so don&#8217;t not check in.

Potential Posting Delay. Posts might be light (it&#8217;s not the easiest thing to work backstage or on a bus full of teenagers).

Tour Participation. I&#8217;m joining my husband Paul on the tail end of his tour next week.

Link to Full Story. Read more

Isolation Feelings. This left me feeling even more unbound.

Family Therapy Resistance. I had infuriated all of them so many times... that they refused to see me until I agreed to family therapy.

Behavioral Impact. These episodes went a long way toward convincing me I wasn't thinking clearly anymore.

Humiliating Episodes. My own recognition came after having a temper tantrum in front of Conde Nast’s CEO (an event so awful and humiliating I can’t further recount it here).

L.L. Bean Tote. I can’t not include L.L. Bean’s Boat and Tote, because it’s timeless and sturdy, and comes in a variety of sizes and colors.

Time for a Tote. A fun yellow striped tote, because who doesn’t need one of those?

Baggu Duck Bag. Baggu’s Duck Bag is very well-priced, well-made, and roomy as can be. It also comes in several good prints.

Elegant Leather Trim. This isn’t cheap, but it’s so damned elegant. I also love how leather trim looks on a canvas bag.

Under $80 Option. A handsome under $80 option from Quince that comes in a few other good shades.

Filson Tote. This classic Filson tote is just cool as hell. It’s marketed to men, but honestly who cares?

Poppy Orange Tote. A poppy orange option that’s plenty roomy, from Clare V.

Accessory Trends. Accessories, such as the Nannacay bag, are trending but need to be chosen wisely in terms of future resale value.

Optimizing Shopping. Using buyback programs like Croissant has the potential to make consumers smarter and more conscious shoppers.

Retail Trends. Certain brands like Khaite, Toteme, and Miu Miu maintain steady buybacks, reflecting ongoing market interest.

Style Risks. The potential for buyback could encourage shoppers to take more fashion risks, particularly if they feel they can recover some of their investment.

Retail Price vs. Buyback. The buyback price of $214 for a $690 item might not be as appealing as selling it on another platform for $500.

Impacted Purchase Decisions. The assurance of a buyback could influence consumers' willingness to purchase items they may not want otherwise.

Buyback Rates. A $2,900 Loewe jacket will yield more than 50% back, while a Dries van Noten halter top commands less than 30% despite being a luxury item.

Fashion and Frustration. The author expresses frustration in winter due to practical limitations that restrict their style choices, unlike summer where 'any pair of shoes is fair game.'

Shopping Experience. Croissant is an extension that follows users through commerce websites and calculates buyback prices for items they like.

Gauze Shirtdress Versatility. A gauze shirtdress that would work equally well off the beach.

Textured Cotton Appeal. Such a pretty, cool-looking textured cotton option.

Fun Tassels. I do enjoy the fun tassels here, and this one comes in a few other good shades.

Versatile Sarong. A sarong is always a snappy (and versatile) choice.

Affordable Gauze Caftan. This gauze and lace caftan has such good details, and is currently marked down to just under $50.

Oversized Shirt Choice. An easy oversized shirt that I also like in this pink.

Terry Option Appeal. Here's a cute and pricey terry option that I kind of love for its slightly retroish vibe.

Floral Sundress Highlight. This block print floral sundress couldn't be a lot prettier, and—because I am not a big fan of tiers—I like that this only has one.

Question Submissions. You can submit questions using this short form, if you&#8217;d like &#8212;&nbsp;all topics welcome, including love, parenting, friendships, anxiety, food, travel, NYC, books, movies, style, Paul Mescal&#8217;s short shorts, whatever!

Community Engagement. I&#8217;m eager to talk about all things big and small with this wonderful group, and to hear your thoughts, too.

Upcoming AMA. This week, we&#8217;re doing another Ask Me Anything!

Cheap Glasses Solution. And here’s a super-cheapo bonus resource for those who misplace their glasses constantly: Amazon, where this three-pack goes for a mere $16.

Affordable Stylish Frames. Gabriel & Simone is a Brooklyn-based brand that churns out frames that look lots pricier than they are, like this rounded cat-eye, which rings in under $50.

Well-Priced Classic Frames. Look Optic has a comparatively small number of frames on offer, but they’re pretty classically appealing and well-priced: I like this pair because the lenses are ever so slightly tinted, which can be flattering to aging eyes.

Popular Daily Frames. The pair I wear most every day—and which you guys routinely ask me about—are these, from Warby Parker.

Age-Positive Brand. I really like Caddis; the brand is very age-positive, and their frames—like these—are the just-right amount of cool.

Mascara Debate. Glamour questioned if mascara was out for 2024, highlighting ongoing debates in beauty trends.

Social Justice Language. Marketing in the beauty industry often promises health, wellness, care, empowerment, autonomy, and community while misaligning with these values.

LGBTQ+ Funding Concern. Amazon has a long history of funding anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion legislation.

Growth of Cosmetic Category. Amazon's cosmetic category is forecasted to grow 26% YoY in 2024, outpacing Amazon's overall growth of 19.9%.

Amazon's Beauty Strategy. Amazon is on track to be the nation’s top beauty retailer by 2025 due to the onboarding of prestige brands and an accessible affiliate program.

Beauty Sales Growth. The percentage of beauty sales increased by 16% during Prime Day 2024, with makeup growing by 30% and skincare by 14%.

Environmental Impact. Prime Day likely accounted for more than 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Worker Injuries. Estimated 45% of Amazon warehouse workers were injured during Prime Day.

Sales Surge. Amazon Prime Day 2024 netted $14.2 billion in sales.

Further Reading. For more depth on this topic, refer to the original article.

Feeling icky. I’m sick of feeling icky.

Outsourcing Friendship. It seemed for awhile she’d outsourced the friendship to her husband, who made excuses and now he’s disappeared in a puff too.

Awkward Gatherings. Our last get together was awkward and I felt like an obligation.

Emotional Impact. I’m hurt, confused and questioning our whole friendship.

Friendship Changes. My closest friend of over a decade has been different since Covid and has gradually faded out despite my best efforts.

Bummer News. This really bummed me out…

Glynnis MacNicol Appearance. We've got author Glynnis MacNicol on Everything is Fine this week and she's a pip, so please do tune in.

Best TV Shows. The 20 best TV shows of the year so far.

Donald Sutherland Tribute. RIP to the endlessly cool (and hot!) Donald Sutherland.

Linen Shirt Dress. A very spiff linen shirt dress with just a hint of sleeve, which I appreciate.

Caftan Vibe. This has a great, caftan-y vibe.

Chic Dress Description. I really dig a red and black print, and it looks so stellar on this chic dress, which also comes in a good grass green.

Polka Dot Fashion. A polka dot maxi that doesn't look the least bit costume-y, as polka dots sometimes can.

Floral Print Comparison. A floral print from Mango that for a moment I mistook for a Liberty print—it's that good.

Strawberry Print Love. Another sundress that I had to include because I love the strawberry print.

Evening Wear Suggestion. I also think this sundress would look great in the evening when it cools off, with a bright cotton cardigan.

Flattering Tee Dress. The cutest and most flattering tee dress I have ever seen.

Puffy Sleeves Appeal. This pretty cotton voile number has another feature I don't usually go for—puffy sleeves—but I think they really work here.

Affordable Fashion. A bright cotton ruffle collar dress that rings in at just under $40, a price I might find too good to ignore.

Maxi Dress Preference. I also typically don't go for maxi dresses, but I think this one is just so flowy and pretty.

Style Adaptation. I don't usually show a lot of sleeveless stuff, but it has been too stinking hot out to care about exposing one's upper arms.

Chic Low Heels. The twist straps on these low heels are chic as can be.

Perfect Linen Shirt Dress. A pretty perfect linen shirt dress.

Versatile Oxford Shirt. Just a solid oxford shirt that looks pricier than it is.

Cute Tiered Skirt. Here’s a cute tiered gauze skirt, for those who go for tiered things.

Comfortable Crepe Pants. Crepe pants that just look so easy and comfortable.

Current Discount. A snappy linen short sleeve button-down that’s currently 50% off.

Dress Up/Dress Down Potential. Here’s another good dress, one with excellent dress it up/dress it down potential.

Versatile Gauze Top. A lightweight gauze top for throwing on with chinos, or the pants above.

Black Clothing Trend. I know I was just extolling the benefits of wearing all black in the summer.

Classic Caftan. And finally, here's a pretty classic one from Emerson Fry.

Beach-to-Street Caftan. This is maybe the perfect beach-to-street caftan.

Subtle Check Print. A cool black caftan, with a subtle tonal check print.

Elegant Stripes. And I really dig this elegant linen striped one as well.

Bold Stripes. Bold blue stripes make a very summery statement.

Geometric Print. I think this geometric print is impossibly chic, and right now it's marked down from very splurgy to just kind of splurgy.

Ikat Print. A cool and graphic ikat print.

Block Print. Here's what I found, starting with this cute block print number.

New Venture. While composing this post, I decided that starting a caftan brand for us ladies of a certain age is what I should do with the next chapter of my life.

Caftan Misconceptions. I think caftans get a bad rap; nothing feels better to wear when it's stinking hot out, and the right one can be pretty glamorous.

Additional Reading. Read more

Question Invitation. Please do send me your best questions in the comments. I&#8217;ll answer most anything.

Worthwhile Movie. This movie looks worthwhile.

Going Gray. How to go gray?

Fun Live Episode. It’s our live NYC episode on Everything is Fine this week and it’s a ton of fun, so please do tune in.

Amusing Movie. This movie looks quite amusing.

Stressful Restaurant Shows. Here are the best restaurant shows, ranked by stressfulness.

Elegant Flowy Dress. This flowy dress is not my typical thing, but I think it’s just so elegant, and the chain print is aces.

Ruching at Sleeves. The ruching at the sleeves of this dress makes it seem kind of Maria Cornejo-ish.

Urgent Sunglasses Purchase. I tried these on and paid for them before I really had a chance to register whether they looked good or not.

More Affordable Option. Here’s a more straightforward option that’s much cheaper.

Blue Striped Button-down. I dig the variegated stripes on this one.

Stocking Up on Tees. I like to swing by the Nordstrom Rack site and stock up on these James Perse tees, which they always have in stock for much less cash than retail.

Perfect Summer Neutral. The light brown is a rather perfect summer neutral, especially with the white soles.

Surprising Chic Pieces. I’m often pleased and surprised at the chic pieces I find there, like this A-line twill skirt.

Silhouette Recommendation. My rule with all animal prints is to look for reasonable straightforward silhouettes; otherwise things can skew too floofy, and even slightly tacky.

Zebra Print Preference. My favorite animal print is a bold zebra, which always looks so good with a summery pop of color.

Fashionable Dress Insight. I found this dress on the Cos website marked way down—I think it’s probably from their most recent fall/winter collection—and the shape is just so good.

Deluxe Cotton-Silk Caftan. I don't know how I'm not supposed to purchase this extremely deluxe-looking cotton-silk blend caftan.

Skirt Coveting. I’m very much coveting this silk satin skirt from 6397.

Color Combination Insight. You can see in this picture how much color really pops when combined with a zebra print.

Unexpected Purple Hue. If you cover up the bad gray leggings with your hand, you can see it’s actually a pretty cool shirt, and the purple hue is nicely unexpected.

Breezy Maxi Dress. A maxi dress from Banana Republic that looks like the personification of breeziness.

Silk Shirt Dress. This silk shirt dress is exactly what I’m talking about.

Cost-Effective Hat. Here’s another cute hat that costs about half as much as the one above.

Holiday Announcement. I'm taking off for the holiday starting tomorrow, and will be back here on Monday the 7th.

Stylish Cover-Up. And finally, a crisp—and kind of sexy—cover-up.

Fun Sun Hat. Such a fun sun hat, in an excellent yellow.

Preferred Sunscreen. I apply and frequently reapply Kosas' lightly tinted Dream Beam—it also stands in for foundation this time of year.

Effective Water Shoes. These unstylish-but-effective water shoes are a must for stepping on the rocky, slimy ocean floor.

Lightweight Beach Footwear. I like these synthetic Birkenstocks for wearing to the beach: they’re lightweight, waterproof, and cost about half as much as traditional Birkenstocks.

Personalizable Water Bottle. A water bottle that 'll keep your cold drinks nicely cold, and which is personalizable.

Cost-Effective Towels. I prefer happy-but-inexpensive choices like these beach towels that get trashed so fast.

Beach Bag Choices. L.L. Bean's Boat and Tote, which comes in many sizes and strap colors, is a pretty peerless choice.

Deep Neckline Popover. I like the deep neckline on this gauze popover.

Textured Shirt. A textured shirt for throwing on with jeans—or shorts, if you’re brave.

Embroidered Beach Top. This linen embroidered top would be excellent for the beach and beyond.

Sheer Printed Layer. A sheer printed top that I’d layer over a silk cami.

Oversized Striped Shirt. A good striped shirt that’s nicely oversized.

Easy Popover. Just a really easy popover for wearing whenever.

Smocked Neckline Top. I like the smocked neckline on this crisp top.

Airy Placket Top. An airy, roomy placket top that comes in a few good shades.

Adorable Swing Top. my friend Ann bought it and was wearing it the other day when we got together, and it is really just so adorable IRL.

Versatile Batwing Top. A batwing top that’d work as well in the fall as it does now.

Bold Stripes Appeal. Bold stripes are always a win.

L.L. Bean Hanging Bag. A handy hanging bag from L.L. Bean with zillions of compartments.

Intriguing Drawstring Bag. This drawstring bag really intrigues me—unfurl it and it’s like a portable vanity for your hotel room.

Tortoise Color Combo. I like the tortoise color combination here.

Baggu Alternative. This one from Baggu comes in a pretty close second in the cuteness department.

Cute Longchamp Bag. This Longchamp bag is just the cutest.

Personalizable Options. Here are two cute block print options that are also personalizable.

Clear Bag Recommendation. This clear bag fits all those specs, and comes in three sizes and multiple colors.

Cosmetic Bag Criteria. I need to have a great cosmetic bag—one big and sturdy enough for all my stuff—but not too big—and reasonably attractive.

Travel Size Products. I am obsessed with finding all the best travel size beauty products, the perfect carry-on, the ideal travel shoes.

Elegant Toile Option. This toile option is both roomy and elegant.

Quilt Design. I do love the block print on this one.

Geometric Throw. A bright and happy geometric-patterned throw.

Bright Storage Baskets. A trio of happy, bright storage baskets—I'm especially enamored of the yellow and black one.

Stylish Feeding Stand. This Lucite feeding stand—with glass bowls—is maybe the most stylish way to feed a pet I’ve ever seen.

Incense Holder. Just a really neato incense holder.

Stylish Beach Chair. The cutest beach chair maybe ever. It comes in a few other color combinations.

Rug Collection. My favorite purveyor of rugs, Aelfie, went on sabbatical a while back, which made me sad.

Vintage Mugs. These vintage mugs—from a long-gone brand called Franci Villa Vanilla—are so damned cute.

Chic Flatware. This very chic flatware set is from the same collaboration.

Napkin Set. This mismatched napkin set, which is so far up my alley, is from a collaboration between West Elm and chef Marcus Samuelsson.

Frantic Confidence. You move with a certain frenzied force through the world, with a frantic confidence that—despite ever-mounting evidence to the contrary—everything is pretty much good.

Personal Reflection. I've never approached it here—something about putting the experience down in writing, and making that public, has felt deeply intimidating.

Self-Recognition. You truly are the last to know when losing your mind.

Mental Illness Stigma. There is too much shame around the topic of mental illness, and I’d like to play some (very) small part in making that not be the case anymore.

Read More.

Ignoring Instincts. Your instincts will be screaming at the top of their lungs—on some gut-check level, you know things are way off—but you will become skilled at ignoring them.

Tribute to Duvall. RIP Shelly Duvall, who was always a favorite of mine; here's a tribute to her quirky talents.

Notable Obits. I love the New York Times obits, because I'm always learning about notable women I'd never heard of before—in this case, music industry vet Mary Martin.

Possible Sequel. There will apparently maybe be a Devil Wears Prada sequel.

Abstract Floral Print. Here’s a more abstract floral print that I’m also a fan of.

Floral Print. Of course I had to include a Liberty floral print.

Nice Twist Detail. The twist detail at the bust here is really nice; this one also comes in several other good shades.

Creative Draping. I like the polka dot print and creative draping on this one.

Flattering Suit. I actually just ordered this one—it’s by Miraclesuit, and looks like it’ll be flattering.

Sporty Choice. A ribbed and striped choice that comes off pleasingly sporty.

Body Variations. Our bodies are all shaped differently, with various bits we’d prefer to keep camouflaged.

Dreadful Shopping. I don’t think there’s anything as dreadful to shop for as swimsuits.

Tummy Control. Many of the suits here have some degree of tummy control going on.

Streamlined Swim Dress. This swim dress has such a good, streamlined silhouette.

Deep Neckline. I like the deep neckline here—it’s sexy without revealing too much at all.

Lightweight Cargo Pants. Lightweight jersey cargo pants—they're back, people, if you dare—that I think would be perfect for travel.

Shirt Dress Restock. I recently bought this poplin shirt dress—which I've already owned and loved in blue. It was sold out in my size in the black for a while, but they restocked and I was able to snag it.

Frank & Eileen Sale. There is a big sale going on at Frank & Eileen in celebration of the brand’s 15th anniversary, and all sorts of items that they never put on sale are currently marked down.

Utility Pants. These utility pants have the just-right amount of stretch without looking like they have stretch, which is the goal.

Pretty Eyelet Caftan. Such a pretty eyelet caftan; it’s a bit sheer, but comes with cotton voile slip.

Clare V Bags. I've owned this Clare V bag in black for a few years now, and then I was gifted the green version on my birthday back in March.

Effective Mini Sunscreen. I love a travel-sized beauty product, especially when it's my favorite, lightly tinted sunscreen, which provides just enough coverage to make it a nice alternative to foundation when it's hot out.

Portable Fan Importance. When I was in Spain last summer it was dreadfully hot, and I bought a fan like this one from a tourist kiosk, and it really makes a difference.

Spill-Proof Containers. After much trial and error, I have determined that these silicone containers are the best for transporting products that don’t come in a mini size.

Lightweight Travel Suitcase. As for suitcases, I’m loyal to Away's Bigger Carry On—it fits a lot and doesn't weigh much.

Platform Sandals Satisfaction. I can't believe it took me so long to go for these platform Birkenstocks, because now that I have them I wear them so constantly it's a little gross.

New Favorite Caftan. I purchased this amazing Rodebejer caftan on the Real Real a couple of weeks ago, and it is fast becoming a new favorite.

Travel Packing Tips. I will never again travel without Tide Sink Packs, which take up very little room and allow you to pack less.

Fashion Shows Detest. Fashion shows and the whole fashion people scene threw me off kilter under the best of circumstances.

Negative Milan Experience. I flew to Milan, knowing somewhere in my gut that that was a horrible idea...this was emphatically not the best of circumstances.

Increased Attention. Then Lucky got hotter, and its power to generate sales could no longer be ignored, and the Italians, at least, were paying attention.

Reluctant European Trip. I never wanted to go to Europe for the fashion shows, and because Italian—and especially French—advertisers hated Lucky at first, there was no real pressure for me to attend at the beginning.

Link to Full Story.

Books on Appalachia. Here are 15 books about Appalachia that aren't Hillbilly Elegy.

Trump's 2025 Plan. Inside Trump's plan for 2025: this is a chilling but important read.

Marimekko Prints Database. This online database of Marimekko prints is your rabbit hole of the day; you're welcome.

Podcast Recommendation. Tune in to my chat with Jenn on Everything is Fine this week; it's…

Sense of Responsibility. The author expresses awe every time they leave a delivery, acknowledging the 'extra person, a life, that did not exist outside of the womb.'

Work-Life Balance. The author shares that being an obstetrician is tiring and physically demanding, requiring work on nights and weekends.

Adapting During COVID. During Covid, the author was the only person who wore regular clothes to work, stating 'it was important to me to show up for work feeling like a human being.'

Clothing and Patient Rapport. The author notes that patients appreciate her interest in clothing, which creates a nice rapport.

Dressing for Work. The author believes work is the easiest occasion to dress for, noting 'I feel like I have a uniform down to a science.'

Fashion vs Medicine. The author feels that her job as a doctor allows her to use fashion as a form of escape and pleasure.

Importance of Exercise. The author emphasizes that 'being in good physical shape makes a difference when you have a physically demanding job, plus kids, plus aging, plus menopause.'

Finding Good Deals. The author highlights finding 'great vintage that is inexpensive too, and it's so well made, and doesn’t go out of style.'

Designers of Choice. The authors tend to start their vintage searches with Jil Sander, Phoebe Philo, and The Row, appreciating the quality and style of their designs.

Second-Hand Shopping. The author mentions only shopping second-hand and praises the vintage pieces available on sites like The Real Real.

Fashion in Medicine. Dr. Isabel Blumberg, a prominent obstetrician, is also recognized for her impressive vintage fashion choices.

Impact of Colleagues. Good colleagues and nurses play a significant role in making the job enjoyable, describing it as 'an orchestra that makes the whole process run smoothly.'

Essence of a Trend. Some people get a genuine thrill from observing, questioning, interpreting, and trying to method act a trend into their wardrobes to see if there is cohesion.

Incredible Rice. I got a jar of award-winning white rice and will report back on how it tastes.

Mixed Salad Recipe. The big hit salad of the season has been little gems with pistachio, toasted fennel seeds, cooked corn, peeled off the cob, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and occasionally pitted green olives or hearts of palm.

Celebrity Influence. The style has been awarded the title of “it-girl shoe” of the season in large part thanks to the subjects of most of these videos, chronicling how Bella Hadid or Hailey Bieber or Kaia Gerber or Kendall Jenner wear theirs.

Fashion Sneakers Popularity. The ones that go most viral can often trace their way back to a silhouette that is more affordable, which lowers the stakes of taking the risk.

Jelly Flats Trend. No doubt the greatest explosion we will face this summer will be thanks to the jelly glove-style flats that appeared on The Row's Spring 2024 runway.

Collaboration Launch. Staud and Keds launched a collaboration on Friday of the classic lace up sneakers.

Capri Pants Reminder. I realized at the end of last week that the most important look never made it into capri pants.

Brand Affinity. Some of the brands I like working with most include Patricia Voto’s One/of. Everything she creates is one of a kind and made to order using these gorgeous dead stock luxury fabrics.

Fashion Event Attire. It’s nice to wear something like this in a setting where 'game sees game' and you know that the people around you will appreciate what you’re wearing.

Vulnerability of Styling. There’s such a vulnerability about it too — when you’re not working with runway figures, the psychological journey of getting a client to feel absolutely amazing is more complicated.

Client Engagement. When a client comes to me and says, 'I’d have never thought to put this together and I’ve never felt this beautiful,' is when I feel most like what I’m doing is worth it.

Essential Basics. I learned about how good the basics from Aritzia are during my Vogue days because I was the one in charge of pulling the styling basics for editorial shoots.

Shopping Strategy. I do an Aritzia haul every two months, and I work from home most days, so it’s what I wear most often.

Style Experimentation. It’s trial and error — you have to try on so much stuff! More than you think is enough.

Emphasis on Comfort. Comfort has become so much more important to me.

Wardrobe Rebuild. I think I’ve been rebuilding my wardrobe over the course of the last year.

Weekend Look. It’s an ideal weekend look because it’s not precious but you don’t look like a slob — it still reflects respect, a sense of style.

Style Evolution. I think how I dress has changed a lot since my magazine days because comfort has become so much more important to me.

Career Transition. The biggest thing with my career transition from editor to stylist is that in editorial, you kind of dress to be part of the editorial, you’re in center-of-attention clothes.

Shopping Full Price. The only things I will buy full-price are everyday sweaters or the Aritzia-type stuff.

Dramatic Clothing. The jacket's cape is dramatic and practical due to its easy wear design and ability to hold shape well.

Accessorial Impact. Wearing gold, silver, or crystal accessories can serve the same function as bright colors and precious fabrics for a simpler look.

Versatility of Shorts. The shape of the Bermuda shorts is beneficial due to their versatility with different styles, from casual to dressed up.

Pairing Basics. Starting with basic pieces allows for a more emotionally-measured expression in outfit creation.

Spring Outfit Template. An ideal spring outfit template consists of a mini dress, lightweight jacket, zip-and-fly-free pants, and flat shoes.

Jacket Versatility. The cape top is versatile to wear both casually and for more formal occasions with its dramatic yet practical design.

Dress as Statement. It’s a one-and-done, style-choice-made-for-you category of garment, but if the dress is simple enough it can be styled with personality quirks.

Emotional Measurement. The intensity is level that the best stuff is born from a stable internal place, which often translates into longevity.

Mood Reflected in Outfit. The emotional impulse tied to clothing choices often stems from those personality pieces designed to evoke feelings.

North American Style Shift. Half way through making that post, I realized I was sitting on what's become a 5th season uniform template, or a good way to get out of the jeans and button down rut.

Versatile Outfit Components. The template is highly versatile, which means you can most likely collage it together using only the contents of your existing wardrobe.

Jacket Length Trend. The most popular jacket length of the season hits right below the top of the thigh, which also makes it the most flattering length.

Layering for Seasonal Changes. The layers really serve you as it might start cold and wet but end hot and bright.

Versatile Uniform Template. The weather takes on like 5 different identities over the course of a day this time of year.

Spring Basics Post. Tuesday's post broke down 5 solid spring basics and offered unconventional ways to wear them.

Comfortable Maternity Jeans. These jeans from the Scandinavian brand Ilouity have no stretch in the denim, but are so nice and roomy on the waist.

Prada Skirt Availability. This Prada skirt, avail on Re-see, is kind of like the orange one with a tail that I keep wearing, but more reasonable (chiefly because it does not have a tail).