Weekend Reads for the Beginning of May

Meghann Stephenson, Why Be A Cut Flower When You Can Be A Weed? (2024) — Meghann Stephenson, *Why Be A Cut Flower When You Can Be A Weed?* (2024)

Weekend Reads

Voters Can Be Disenfranchised Now. (The Atlantic – gift link)

How a father and daughter duped NYC’s art world with fake Warhols and Banksys. (AP)

I Should’ve Shoplifted More From Anthropologie. (Best Party, Worst House via Substack)

If we're so sad, why are we still spending? (Your Brain on Money via Substack)

How YouTube Took Over the American Classroom. (The Wall Street Journal – gift link)

My Kids Only Know the Edited Version of My Life. (Gloria)

The Shocking Secrets of Madison Square Garden’s Surveillance Machine. (Wired; note the Gif/graphic is really fast moving and I personally had to scroll quickly past it to read).

The Girls Are Opting Out and Everyone Is Losing Their Minds. (yes, it is that deep via Substack)

Let Trans People and Looksmaxxers Change Their Bodies. (GQ)

The Anatomy of an Exhibition. (Object Labels on Substack)

Thinking of updating our kitchen with this; code ALISON15 gets you 15% off.

Speaking of codes, if you're shopping for travel shoes know that code ALISON10 gets you 10% off at Kizik!

Gloria Steinem Invited Me Over to Her Brownstone for a Group Discussion on Sexual Desire. This Is How It Went. (Vanity Fair)

At the tender age of 100, Book of the Month is still grappling with its literary identity. (Dirt)

On losing a daughter. (The Atlantic – gift link)

Style Inspo & Sale Alert

A reader reached out saying she doesn't like wearing a lot of color and was wondering how to look polished, especially in summer, when she mainly wears black, gray, and beige. Challenge accepted! Breathable fabrics like linen and cotton voile, using silhouette and detail to add interest, and elevated accessories to provide polish and elegance to closet basics with a splash.

spring to summer capsule of ivory and black for women in midlife

This week, reader Elizabeth sent me a link for a pair of white linen wide-leg pants on Nordstrom Rack… and it sent me down a rabbit hole. See, I've been wanting a new pair of white linen pants (I mentioned it on Substack), but unfortunately these were not available in my size. So I kept perusing the site and dang, between the essentially “outlet” items created for Nordstrom Rack and things that weren't much cheaper than elsewhere, I found some gems. And I bookmarked them all in this collection on ShopMy.

If you like this concept, let me know and I'll add something similar each week from different retailers. It will just be my curated picks, considering both my taste and what I think y'all would like.

Sale Alert

Bare Necessities has its Spring Refresh Sale going on with 30% off styles you want to wear NOW. We're talking Elomi, Wacoal, Panache, and Glamorise bras, Sunsets, Birdsong, and Freya swimwear, Hanro sleepwear, Chantelle undies… this sale is worth a check. I personally own this swimsuit top, this swimsuit top, this bra (which I recommended as one of my favorites for large busts), this bra (hello racerback front close for large boobs), and this sports bra (also in my bra guide). You can shop by category or filter by size.

Knix is having its Anniversary Sale, which has a ton of great things on sale, including 40% off the leakproof collection. Knix is known for its highly-rated Revolution V-Neck Bra, which is part of the sale. The Thigh Savers are super for summer, offering chafe protection and optional light absorbency. And the Leakproof UltraThin No-Show High Rise comes in a range of absorbency levels while being VPL-free, invisible under clothes. Knix absorbs whatever you need absorbed; for us grown-ass women that can be a few different things and is especially important in the hot and active summer season!

LOFT has 50% off sitewide, and I keep mentioning LOFT because it's a place that offers up to size 18, petites up top 16, and does basic summer items like dresses and shorts super well. I love the modern cut of LOFT's Bermuda shorts like these, and these, and these (all under $35). For dresses, I'm digging this one, this one, and this one (all under $60).

See/Hear/Read

margo's got money troubles apple tv marketing poster

I read Margo's Got Money Troubles a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. I did no research on the book, at first didn't think I'd like it, but came to find it was a well-written story with an unexpected protagonist I became attached to, and an underlying message about sex work and the patriarchy and capitalism.

nicole kidman and nick offerman in margo's got money troubles — I don't lie sharing photos that may be spoilers, but I hope this photo truly sells the show to those who are doubting. Yes, that is Nick Offerman with Nicole Kidman in pigtails and yes the two of them are in a wrestling ring. You're welcome.

So when I heard that Apple TV was doing a series based on the book starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman and created by David E. Kelley, I was all in. And I have to say it is respecting the book while being a really enjoyable show on its own. The cast is positively stellar, and while I read the book I still feel surprised and entertained by Margo's Got Money Troubles. If you're looking for a new series, check it out (know there is nudity, but it is truly needed for the plot)