Weekend Reads for the Beginning of March

March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb… my mom used to say this all the time. Saying it in my head, I hear it in my mom's voice. And I used to think, maybe it's more like a panther or jaguar as much of march is dark and gray, instead of roaring. I write this week's reads from my dining table, looking a the window to a very gloomy day.

I recently switched back to my old ad network; many of you were complaining about the ads on my site and I didn't want to impede your experience here. But when I went back to my old site, they set me up in a tier where I am to achieve a certain revenue level… one I haven't achieved before (very very close, but not quite). So my goal this year is to find ways to make that happen through improving the content, not ramping up the ads.

I've been doing a lot of research on search engine optimization (SEO), AI engine optimization (AEO), and E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) which helps with site ranking on Google and other search engines. This has changed the layout of recent articles and I'd love your feedback on it.

I've been using call-out boxes to summarize long articles, highlight personal favorites and tips, and recommend additional relevant articles on the site. Some articles of mine, and most from community reviews will have bios at the end. And because these engines like FAQs, I am adding that to most of articles at the end.

Have you noticed these changes? What are your thoughts on them? I've made these tools myself, so I can edit them so they look and perform differently. Let me know what is good, what is annoying, and with it let me know what kind of device you're using (phone, tablet, laptop, etc.) and what browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.). Sure, I want Wardrobe Oxygen to be more likely to be found by those using search engines, but I want to make sure those of you who are already here are still having a good experience. I am grateful to your support and feedback!

Weekend Reads

Who Invented Women’s History Month? I’m Glad You Asked. (The Persistent)

I Hired a Lab to Counterfeit-Test a Dozen Suspicious Beauty Products I Bought Online. Every Single One Had a Problem. (Wirecutter)

Military Commander Tells Troops Bombing Iran Is ‘Part Of God’s Divine Plan.’ (Huffington Post)

I just got this jacket and it's super cute.

Meet the Finest Boys in Finance. (Interview)

The Disappearing Act of Exceptional Women. (The Noösphere on Substack)

Heated Rivalry Creator Is Making a Decidedly Gay Netflix Show About Alexander the Great. (Them)

When Life Gave Her Ageism, She Created Oldster. (New York Times – gift link)

Investigation finds ‘secretly’ added chemicals of unknown safety in US food supply. (CNN)

At the start of each new season I renew my Rent the Runway subscription. It's a way to transition my wardrobe without shopping too fast. I have time to try things, watch the trends, and see what I really want and will continue to want.

Gen Z males twice as likely as baby boomers to believe wives should obey husbands. (The Guardian)

This App Warns You if Someone Is Wearing Smart Glasses Nearby. (404)

Americans Are Leaving the U.S. in Record Numbers. (Wall Street Journal – gift link)

I just got some of these in calm, sleep, and energy. I like the ingredients, and I love the metal tin. So travel-friendly!

With women now controlling more than one-third of global wealth, they are spending more on art than men do, data shows, and influencing what museums acquire. (New York Times – gift link)

I Investigated a Fake Newspaper Targeting Greenpeace. Then It Targeted Me. (Evergreen via Substack)

Being uncomfortable is okay. (Modern Daily Knitting)

Style Inspo & Sale Alert

The Soma $30 Bra Sale is here, and I can't think of a better time during the year to update one's bra wardrobe. Get ready for lighter-weight fabrics, sleeveless tops, and warmer weather with fresh bras that offer the type of coverage and support your desire. And to get such high-quality bras for such a low price? How can you resist?

If you are shopping Soma online, and haven't been measured in a while, I encourage you to do so before you place an order. Especially in midlife, our body is constantly changing and shifting and your bra size may have changed since last you checked. This link goes to the the A Bra That Fits calculator; scroll down for instructions on how to measure yourself at home. Now that you've done that, here are my recommendations from the Soma $30 Bra Sale:

• If you desire a wireless bra, Soma has pretty fantastic ones.
  • The Enbliss Bralette has a cult following for comfort, support, and clean lines for up to a C cup and XXXL. I am super into the Magenta Orchid color!
  • The Embraceable Wireless Full Coverage Bra is my personal favorite wireless comfort bra for those of us with the bigger boobs. I am a 36F and find this bra gives enough support to be worn out of the house. You can read my detailed review at this link.
• Soma also makes excellent strapless bras that are relatively comfortable and offer good support, shape, and stay in place. I am a personal fan of the Stunning Strapless, which is pretty heavy duty, but will stay in place and lift me beautifully all day and/or night. My teen is a fan of the Bodify and has worn it under many a homecoming dress.
• In the spring and summer, I have a lot of outfits where I don't necessarily need my breasts lifted to my chin, but I want straps that will hide under my tops and dresses and fabric that won't sop up sweat like a sponge. The Soma Unbelievable Lift Unlined Perfect Coverage Bra and the Soma Plunge Unlined Bra with Lace are two I have that are favorites under sundresses and wide-strapped tops and lightweight for summer.

See/Hear/Read

By the time you read this, I likely will have finished the audiobook version of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. I am not sure where I got the recommendation or from who, but I am grateful because this is an utterly delightful experience.

And I do mean experience. Some audiobooks are good, and some are like listening to a high-quality show. With over a dozen voice actors, and the book laid out as letters and emails to and from the protagonist, it's very well done. If you enjoyed the audiobook for Tom Lake, you will likely enjoy this one.

At first, the repetition of mailing and email addresses was annoying AF but it became soothing. I recognized the voices, looking forward to a letter from a friend or relative. The protagonist is a woman in her 70s who was born around the same time as my mom. She lives in Annapolis, Maryland (well, really Arnold, but folks around here know it's easier to state the more famous city).

She visits places I know, like the University of Maryland at College Park and writes to folks who live on Dumbarton Street in DC and her neighbor caught a movie at the Annapolis Mall theater. But you don't need to be a local or have a loved one a similar age to enjoy this book.

At a time when life is so chaotic, this book is a balm. It doesn't ignore what's going on; in fact it takes place in the mid- to late- 2010s so there is mention of the new president and administration. But it is a beautiful example of how something as simple as a letter can transform lives.

For Your Entertainment

ILUKA is an Australian-born, now American-based singer/songwriter and the genre of music she is known for is called Female Rage. Also called Feminine Rage and Feminist Rage, this genre is gaining traction by revisiting “classics” from Bikini Kill, Tori Amos, and Alanis Morissette to new artists like Paris Paloma (“labour“) and ILUKA.

The song “Woman Gone Mad” came out last year, but the video was just released, giving a new audience to this artist who has gained a strong social media following. Regarding this song, ILUKA shared, “‘Woman Gone Mad' is a song for the insane times we’re currently living through. While oligarchy and fascism seem to be the new reality as weak men in power become more unhinged, I think music, art, and community are what’ll save us.” Here are the lyrics via Genius.