Weekend Reads for Labor Day Weekend

E started her senior year of high school last week, but this was the first “real” week which had more homework and more activities. Friday was her Senior Sunrise but it was canceled last minute because this area had pretty bad storms overnight and it took out the power at a few schools in the county. They all arrived, milled around, and headed out. They hope to reschedule this coming week.

I took over as leader for the last year of Girl Scouts and this week had Zoom training for new leaders, visited the local store to get supplies, and am writing this when I should be finalizing my agenda for my first meeting this evening. The community center is booked for our city's Labor Day festival so I'll have a gaggle of 17- and 18-year-olds sitting criss-cross applesauce in my living room.

I also did a lot of social stuff this week. My friend participated in HYROX and I went to cheer her on (I would so do it but my knee would not survive). It was so fun and so inspiring but with the commute to DC and back, it took up six hours of my Thursday. I also had dinner one evening with a couple of friends; this dinner had been rescheduled so many times so it was great to finally connect.

I saw someone in a local Buy Nothing Group ask for the gift of knowledge about Instagram and Facebook and how to manage multiple accounts on one device. I reached out, realized what they were trying to do, and scheduled an in-person meet this week.

They had personal Instagram and Facebook pages but wanted pages for their art. We were able to create the pages and connect them to the personal accounts so they can now toggle between the two. I helped set up 2FA, showed how to cross-post, shared some tips for branding and consistency, and got to know a really cool person who lives in my community.

Even as someone who uses Meta daily, it took over an hour to figure all this out. If you struggle with these social platforms, know it's not just you. Meta changes them all the time, I think purposefully to keep us on our toes and miss that they change the terms and access.

Nothing is free on the internet, and in general in our capitalist society. That's why I love sharing what I know about internet stuff for free, it's like a middle finger to Zuck and Bez and Musk and the folks trying to monetize this info with courses. A high tide raises all ships and cream rises to the top; if I can share what I know to benefit small businesses, local politicians, artists, and fellow content creators I will. If we all have the same access to the same tools and techniques, we as a society get higher quality options.

We don't need to throw money at a situation to make it better. Many of us have skills others would benefit from. From knowing how to mend clothes to how to make marketing posters online to replacing a flat tire to making sourdough bread to learning how to have grocery delivered… your skillset could possibly benefit your community in ways you never thought.

Weekend Reads

Gloria Steinem Loved Women. (The Cut)

You Can Have My Walkman, Just Don’t Take My Mix Tape. (New York Times – gift link)

The Backlash Against Polyester Has Gone Too Far. (The Atlantic – gift link)

The Bookstore-Slash-Skate-Shop Next to Ballerina Farm. (The Paris Review on Substack)

How ‘Somatics’ Became the Solution to Modern Life. (The Atlantic – gift link)

Coming Home. (Oldster on Substack)

Employers Are Making Job Candidates Jump Through Hoops to Prove They’re Real. (Wall Street Journal – gift link)

Was John Galliano Ever Really Canceled? Not by the Fashion Crowd. (New York Times – gift link)

Can Vogue Survive Without Anna? (Camille Moore on Substack)

Sézane Went From Chloé to Céline—and Everyone Is Freaking Out. (Style Architect on Substack)

Daisy Chain Reminds Us Feminism Has Always Been Cool. (Abortion, Every Day on Substack)

Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields Raises $20 Million And Her Star Power. (Forbes)

And a great piece sent to me from Rochelle: If size inclusivity is so popular, why is it still so hard to find your size? (Megan Kristel on Substack)

Style Inspo & Sale Alert

Sale Alert

All this weekend's sales are found at my Labor Day Weekend sale roundup!

Style Inspo

This fall, you're going to see a lot of shirts and blouses and they go from classic menswear-inspired button-front shirts in poplin, oxford, and silk that are slightly oversized and slouchy to feminine blouses full of ruffles, lace, full sleeves, and lace detail. And all of them look great with jeans and a pair of boots or loafers.

Shop the collage: peach (0-20/22) | black (XXS-XL) | blue paisley (XX-XXL & petite) | white puff sleeve (XS-3X) | ivory and red print (XXS-XXL) | brown (XXS-XXL) | navy print (XS-XXL & petite) | chartreuse (00-40) | white high neck (XS-XL) | light blue (14-32) | white deep neck (XS-3X & petite) | navy and green print (XS-XXL)

Silk, chiffon, cotton lawn, lace, and even jersey blouses are at every retailer this season and they can go from a bit of boho sleeve volume to a full-out ruffle explosion. There is no specific neckline, color, or detail this season though these blouses are not tight and the concept is romantic and soft, not necessarily prim or bold.

Shop Romantic Blouses:

White is going to be the color you will find the most, often with puffed shoulders, a high ruffled neck, and inserts of lace or broderie anglaise (sort of like eyelet with more embroidery). However, you will see solid colors, florals and prints, primarily in moody colors. Scarf necks are back, so if you still have yours whip them out. Consider tying it loose instead of into a bow. When shopping, consider going a size up or choosing a silhouette that is more relaxed. If it hits high hip, you can leave it untucked.

Shop the collage: tan (XXS-XXL) | navy (XXS-XXL) | French blue (0/2-20/22) | green stripe (XXS-XL) | blue stripe with cuffs (XXS-XXL & petite/tall) | olive (XS-XL) | pink (XXS-XXL) | green (XXS-3X) | ice blue (XXS-XXL) | gray stripes with cuffs (00-40) | blue tunic (XXS-3X & petite) | burgundy (XXS-XXL & petite)

With the shirts, you may see white contrast collar and cuffs, or a ruffled-edge stand collar and/or placket. Denim and dark chambray shirts are also back; more of a classic design and not the western influence. There is a good chance with this trend you likely already have it in your closet.

Shop Collared Shirts:

If not, use the collage above and if you can, head thee to a thrift store and look for something a size larger than you usually wear, and possibly in the men's department. Grab one with the embroidered Ralph Lauren Polo icon and that's even better. It makes more sense to buy one of these and have it tailored to be the right sleeve length and even body length than to buy new (though if like me you're busty, I can't recommend The Boyfriend Shirt from Rochelle Behrens enough).

See/Hear/Read

It feels fitting that between the passing of Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem I consumed two pieces of feminist art.

I finished Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage and never figured out why this book was considered controversial. I think it's because Belle Burden is a person of privilege. The granddaughter of Babe Paley, Burden came from money and access. Her husband did not, but got into a field where he made a lot of money. There were multiple homes and trust funds; things most people dealing with divorce don't have.

Divorce is a sensitive topic, and so is money; it's hard not to read a book about something you experienced but in such a drastically different circumstance and not take it personally. I have not experienced divorce, and I have not experienced such wealth, so I didn't take this book personally. I also never read her original Modern Love submission, which I hear leans more into the money aspect.

And because of this, I thought this was an excellent memoir that told a tale as old as time and one that further proves why we should thank Gloria Steinem for many rights that we have come to take for granted. Money can't buy happiness or love, and never put your finances completely into the hands of another.

It wasn't that long ago that we women could not open a credit card, bank account, or get an auto loan unless a husband, father, or male relative co-signed. Steinem one of the many who fought for the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974. In this century, to just put your finances and life into the hands of another without any review or participation is both dangerous and a slap in the face to what so many risked their lives to make possible. Reading Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage is a good reminder to not take anything for granted and no famous family or vacation home can protect you.

We also finished Furious, a series on Hulu. So many of you DMed me, emailed me, and commented suggesting I watch it. THANK YOU. This is one of the best shows I have seen in a loooong while. The acting. The writing. The cinematography. The concept. Phenomenal.

Furious stars Emmy Rossum as Alice, an ex-cop turned FBI agent who switched careers because of a situation in a romantic relationship with a fellow cop. It also stars Lola Petticrew as a woman who was trafficked as a child and out for vengeance. Quincy Tyler Bernstein is Nora, a fellow FBI agent and an effing STAR. Hope Davis is Emma, and these four women in various different ways explain the title of the show.

That being said, there are some stellar non-women actors in this series. Scoot McNairy and Steve Way were amazing, though honestly Jake Lacy, Rob Yang, and Danny McCarthy also played their roles incredibly well. Very natural, very realistic.

Furious was renewed for a second season and the final episode was so perfect, I know everyone who watched this series is waiting for S2 with baited breath. Furious is not an easy watch, but IMO it is a must-watch.