Style is what brought a lot of us here. Life is what keeps us coming back.
Wardrobe Oxygen has always been about more than clothes. Since 2005, this space has been where I share what’s on my mind: the things I’m reading, thinking about, and navigating as a woman in midlife. That means perimenopause, aging parents, kids becoming adults, civic life, cultural moments worth paying attention to, and the occasional strong opinion about something that has nothing to do with fashion (though really, fashion is political…).
Every weekend you’ll find my Weekend Reads roundup: a curated mix of articles, essays, and links worth your time. And scattered throughout you’ll find longer personal essays when something is worth saying at length.
This is the less-polished corner of the site. It’s where I write like myself, think out loud, and trust that the women reading this are navigating a lot of the same terrain. Pull up a chair, I’m so glad you’re here!
Weekend Reads How real is Shōgun? (Vox) Is humanity out of fashion? (New York Times – gift article) Alabama town that hasn’t held elections in decades sued to allow voting. (The Guardian) The legacy of Black cowgirls. (Capital B) For twenty years, PostSecret has broadcast suburban America’s hidden truths—and revealed the limits of limitless disclosure. (Hazlitt)…
I know I am not the only one watching Palm Royale, a new series on Apple TV starring Kristen Wiig. Set in 1969, Wiig’s character, Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons, recently moved to Palm Beach and is willing to do almost anything to be part of high society. And I know I am not the only one looking…
During the pandemic, I really felt the size of my home. I live in a 1940s row home, and while we did remodel it in 2008, almost to double its square footage, it’s still under 1,500 square feet with an open-concept main floor. Two bedrooms and a weird L-shaped office/gym you walk through to get…
Weekend Reads Does having bad morals really make you ugly? (Dazed Beauty) Abortion influences everything. (Vox) Latest sneakers I bought: The New Balance 327. Roomy enough for my wide feet, the sole going up the back reminds me of Loewe sneakers, so many cool colors. America’s happiness score drops amid a youth ‘midlife crisis’. (Washington…
The moral case for letting trans kids change their bodies. (Intelligencer) What the hell is a stylist? (Articles of Interest) What’s going on with Oprah? (Burnt Toast) Why prices of the world’s most expensive handbags keep rising. (Wall Street Journal – gift article) How designer clothes make it to your wardrobe. (Washington Post – gift…
Here on Wardrobe Oxygen, I often share real-life style advice for grown-ass women. What is a grown-ass woman? I often get this question and wanted to explain what the term means and why I choose to use it for Wardrobe Oxygen. What is Wardrobe Oxygen? I have been sharing real-life style advice on Wardrobe Oxygen…
I launched a private Facebook group for the Wardrobe Oxygen community. While I have managed many Facebook pages, I have never built or administrated a group before. The information provided to an admin when requesting membership to a Facebook group floored me… but then I realized the information I am provided isn’t much different from…
Weekend Reads Thank you to Marsha in the Middle for a mention on her blog! (Marsha in the Middle) You may recognize Marsha from my Miami Fitwear swim review! Women may get a bigger longevity boost from exercise than men. (Washington Post – gift article) Why we’re more exhausted than ever. (Time) How caregivers are…
Weekend Reads How tattoos helped me love my body. (Jennifer Magazine) The consequences of (not so) casual sexual assault. (The Audacity) My mother got on a bike. It changed her life. (New York Times – gift article) How wearable should clothes in a fashion show be? (The Back Row) All pets go to heaven. She…