Weekend Reads for the Start of September

Weekend Reads

Politics News Site NOTUS Rebrands as The Washington Sun. (New York Times – gift link)

Inside the Perimenopause Industrial Complex. (Wired)

Gotta say these earrings are even more beautiful in person.

What if America Went Completely Dark? (New York Times – gift link)

You’re Mad at the Wrong Influencers. (Side Chat on Substack)

I think I need this for the lapel of my wool coat this winter.

A middle schooler said she was r*ped. Then she was suspended from classes. (The 19th)

Why are men’s dragons ‘serious’ but mine are ‘smut’? (The Female Lead on Substack)

I really want this shirt.

How a Restaurant at the Top of the World Trade Center Changed New York. (Wall Street Journal – gift link)

The Upsides to Downsizing Dinner. (Cup of Jo)

The color of these loafers is delicious!

70s Feminism Screwed Gen X Women. (Another Jane Pratt Thing on Substack)

We Are Not Canceling Gloria Steinem. (More to Hate on Substack)

These are the latest Adidas I got that are wide-foot friendly!

What’s Fueling Loneliness—and Polarization—in America Today? (The Nation)

How I Tried to Make New Friends in Midlife. (Gloria)

I'm seeing ballet wrap tops trending for activewear and athleisure; I love the gray color of this one and this one is a nice price.

The ‘Odyssey’ Scholar Emily Wilson, a Critic of the Movie, Is Redoing Her Translation. (New York Times – gift link)

Could the Galliano Met Gala Fiasco Mark the End of Anna Wintour’s Reign? (The Hollywood Reporter)

I now have multiple piercings on my lobes, but if I didn't I'd be getting these.

Trying to Make Peace with My “Berthas.” (Oldster on Substack)

Ectopic Pregnancy Deaths Have Nearly Doubled. It’s Worse in States With Abortion Bans. (Propublica)

What Ted Lasso Can Teach Us About Democracy. (The Preamble on Substack)

Margaux keeps getting better and better and I am in love with these flats.

Home From College, 2 Weeks Later. (New York Times – gift link)

How Would AI Actually Kill Us All? What to Know About the AI Doomsday Debate. (Wall Street Journal – gift link)

Style Inspo & Sale Alert

Sale Alert

Soma has 30% off sitewide! This is a stellar sale, because it's on everything: the turnaround tank I recommend in my best white tanks, the Embraceable Wireless and Vanishing Front-Close bras I recommend in my guide to creating a bra wardrobe, these undies and these undies that I love and wear because they disappear under linen, leggings, and knit dresses, this gorgeous yet comfy robe and matching gown, and these soft knit dresses with pockets and built-in bra.

Style Inspo

Since summer of 2024, I need to wear glasses 90% of the time (I don't when I am reading or using a computer or at dinner… close up stuff). I got LASIK about a decade ago, but my retina surgery changed my prescription. I have several frames, but most often wear my tortoiseshell Pradas or my gold aviator Ray-Bans.

I think both are pretty classic, but this year I have been desiring something that fits with the current trends… and I decided a pair of crystal acetate frames fits. I just got these from Warby Parker, but above I have some other styles that I think are a great choice for now and for seasons to come.

I have always been a fan of calfhair, pony hair, and textured accessories, especially in an animal print. Since 2005 I've been saying leopard is a neutral and Fall 2026 is where that neutral is a big trend. You will also see tiger, cheetah, zebra, deer, and other animal spots.

As accessories, this is a good way to update your existing closet; they go with leather and suede, brown and black, as well as pretty much any color. And take it from me, someone who has had calfhair shoes, bags, and belts in her closet for decades, they remain stylish, working with a range of trends for years to come.

I have August's bestsellers up on ShopMy. These are the items that were most popular with the Wardrobe Oxygen community across the blog, Facebook, Instagram, and Substack.

See/Hear/Read

We're watching Project Runway (Hulu) and it's a major disappointment. The tactics they're using to try to make the show engaging cheapen the concept and honestly feel dated in 2026. It doesn't feel like a show about fashion, but a show about fashion people. To have designers judged for what they wear to the show and never show the designers actually sewing, to use saves for people who taped dresses together and wait to share who got kicked off for the next episode… I really don't care who wins because I don't even really know if they're any good.

While looking for a photo for Season 22 of Project Runway I found this ridiculous AI-version of the team. How utterly creepy and utterly racist… I hate it all.

We're still watching The Shards (also Hulu) and I gotta say, this is such ridiculous camp I'm really into it. It's so beautiful to look at, the guy playing Bret (Igby Rigney) I think is a great actor, I still think the guy playing Robert (Homer Gere) has a punchable face, Debbie (Hayes Warner) has a face you can't stop looking at, Susan (Kaia Gerber) proves why her mother is an American icon, and Jamie Dutton/Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) plays such a good slimeball.

For books, I was in a between stage on Libby with all my requests on hold or arrived too soon. I sought something available and got The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, which came out this May. This is the second novel from Stockett, best known for The Help. It takes place in Mississippi in 1933. I went into this book not knowing anything; the only way I knew Stockett wrote The Help is because that's mentioned on the cover. However, to write this I did a little digging and I seem to be too early in the book (a little less than halfway through) to pass judgement. Many feel the book takes a big turn halfway through and I have a feeling I will come upon that big turn very soon. So we'll see what I think when it's finished!