Weekend Reads for The First Weekend of August

Weekend Reads

Uber will let women drivers and riders request to avoid being paired with men. (CNBC)

The real reason we tip and why it needs to change. (Vox)

Main character syndrome is ruining public spaces. (Just Vibes via Substack)

Ralph Lauren pays homage to generations of Black Martha's Vineyard visitors in a new collection. (NBC News)

Historic Black facts behind the controversial Ralph Lauren Oak Bluffs collection. (The Root)

Divas in the drawing room: The ‘Gilded Age' drag cameo you might have missed. (Advocate)

Are newsletters and podcasts killing the art of journalism? (Future Proof via Substack)

K doesn't drink anymore, and I don't as often and never at home. We got a variety pack of Aplós mocktails, and they're some of the most enjoyable I've tried (Ume Spritz was both of our favorite).

Rise of the idiot interviewer. (Current Affairs)

A colonoscopy saved my life, but I almost didn't have one. (Gloria)

‘Generations of women have been disfigured’: Jamie Lee Curtis lets rip on plastic surgery, power, and Hollywood’s age problem. (The Guardian)

Met Museum announces highest attendance numbers since 2019. (Hyperallergic)

How much do podcasters really earn? One star pulls back the curtain. (New York Times – gift link)

Marc Jacobs’s anti-politics, from faux nails to creative freedom. (The Washington Post – gift link)

Even the obit writers are jumping ship at The Washington Post. (Politico)

The newest addition to my wrist stack.

The testosterone theory of politics. (Vox)

How to write an abortion story. (Lux)

Doctors were preparing to remove their organs. Then they woke up. (New York Times – gift link)

Reddit is one of the last thriving islands of the old web. Can it survive AI? (Intelligencer – free for a limited time)

Style Inspo & Sale Alert

As I mentioned before, I am going on this cruise to The Riviera Maya August 24th – 29th, and all are welcome to come along. It's a Virgin Voyages cruise, and it's not as dressy as other cruise lines. However, there is a Scarlet Night where everyone wears red.

I have this Quince dress in red, which is the budget-savvy choice to wear for Scarlet night. It has become my protest dress because I'm okay with it getting sweaty and coated with sunscreen, because it washes well, and it has pockets. It's a great everyday throw-on with Birks and a go dress, but I don't feel especially cute or festive in it.

I was looking at this romper from FARM Rio. It gets good reviews on the Tuckernuck site, but less positive reviews on the FARM Rio site. It's also sold at St. Bernard, but no reviews. It's cute, and I can see myself wearing it next 4th of July, as well as to other summer social events. The romper necklines look so different across retailers, reminding me of my apparel bracketing article and making me hesitant to shop.

Likely, I won't buy it and just work with what is in my closet or get a more versatile top and wear with white pants or shorts (or bring the Quince dress). But I am in the planning/dreaming stage with the cruise in less than a month and there are a lot of tabs open in my browser!

Leopard is back… but was it ever gone? I think leopard is a neutral and an excellent way to spice up wardrobe staples. Leopard can often be found on resale and pieces like a calfhair belt or a silk scarf are perennially chic.

dress (0-14) | belt (XS-XL) | bracelet | earrings | skinny scarf | blouse (XS-XL & petite) | sunglasses | clutch purse | cardigan (XS-3X & petite) | handbag | looped scarf | sweater shell (XS-3X & petite) | shoulder bag | coat (1X-3X) | tote | sandals | pants (25-34 & petite/long)

Baublebar has its Big Biannual Event going on through August 10th. This means 25% off sitewide and 20% off custom items. For a bit, I was finding Baublebar too youthful for my grown-ass self, but this season is pretty fantastic. This necklace is the shiznet; I have it in the Green Jade but now also want it in White. It's a bit Wilma Flintstone but in the best way. I also got this bag charm (olive fans represent!), and the size and quality are really excellent. It looks super cute on my Lands' End tote with my Lands' End orange crab charm (Maryland represent!).

The Universal Standard Big Summer Sale is here, and I know some of you are thinking… big whoop. Alison, you're always sharing a Universal Standard sale. And I am, but each sale I share has different perks. This one, which is on through August 5th, has 300+ styles with prices starting at just $9, and looks are up to 75% off, and some of them are part of the Fit Liberty program. That means if your size changes within one year, you can swap the item for a new size for FREE.

BTW, if you are new to Universal Standard (or, if you're the type who creates new accounts with different emails), you can use INFS-ALISON10OFF for an additional 10% off your order.

The majority of the items in the Big Summer Sale are final sale, so I don't recommend shopping willy-nilly unless you know how Universal Standard already fits you. But these are my personal picks:

• In my Rochelle Behrens The Shirt review, I mentioned US button-fronts are a good size-inclusive alternative. The Artist Shirt and The Elbe Poplin are both in the sale (select colors), I own both, and find both quality and great for curves.
• I have this Breton in two colors and it is good quality and holds up well. If in doubt, size up. Same with this Breton dress, I have it and love it and if in doubt, size up. Neither shrink but they are fitted.
• I have and love these jeans in this same washed black color. I think they fit great and look expensive, aren't too tight but look good with slouchy oversized top layers and boots of any height.
• The Odeon shirtdress is pretty great; if in doubt again I suggest sizing up especially if you have a booty. Some of the colors are on sale and Fit Liberty and this dress is cute loose, over a turtleneck and boots, belted, open like a duster, worn as a swim coverup, can even be a nightdress. Here's the link to it in poplin and here's the link to it in linen.
• I have this blouse in Goji Berry and really like it. Runs TTS, great solo or under a jacket as an easy work or dinner top.

See/Hear/Read

For our family road trip, my sister suggested we all listen to an audiobook together, and I loved the idea. We first chose James by Percival Everett, which is a re-imagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Sounded like something we would all enjoy. The narrator's voice put us all to sleep or had us lose focus. I'd be asleep and wake up four chapters later and feel as though I hadn't missed a thing, likely because I did know the general story from reading Twain way back in the day. This book may be phenomenal, but I recommend, if possible, to read, not listen to it.

The other book we downloaded for the ride was Atmosphere, the latest by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Daisy Jones & The Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo). Atmosphere takes place in the early 80s and is focused on the NASA space shuttle mission, there is a romance, and that is all I knew.

There are two voice actors for the book, one for each of the main characters, and each chapter flips from one character to the next. This helped keep our attention. The information about stars and space travel was fascinating, which also kept our attention. Early on, I was able to see it was going to be a lesbian romance. My husband figured it out a few chapters later. And then a few chapters later, the Apple CarPlay in our rental car crapped out and we couldn't finish the novel.

Good thing, because I finished it on my own, and soon after we stopped, the book got very steamy. And while no one in our car has issue with romance, I don't think me, my husband, our teen, and my sister all want to be in a minivan together listening to sex scenes being narrated.

Atmosphere is very good. Some characters are infuriating, some are major cliches, and some parts of the writing were very heavy-handed. Some aspects had too much focus, some I wish there was more (like the NASA stuff). That being said, I enjoyed it though it didn't really stick with me.

The end of the book make me cry. But when coming here to recap it, I literally couldn't remember how the book ended. I was floored that a book could make me that emotional, yet also completely disappear. Maybe it's menopause brain, or maybe it's just a bit too surface. But don't get me wrong, I recommend this book and I hope it turns into a movie, for I will surely watch it, and likely cry in the theater, too.

For Your Entertainment

Chappell Roan is back. Hinting at something to do with the subway, and a lot of hair, Roan had ads all over NYC promoting something happening August 1st. And it's the launch of the video to her song, “Subway,” which she has already been performing at festivals and performances in recent months.

“The Subway” is a beautiful song about the one who's got a way and got away, I saw such a metaphor with her hair in the video, holding onto time and memories, even those which are not serving her. Also, hello, amazing extras and cameos, including the famous Green Lady of Brooklyn!