Weekend Reads for October 25

Weekend Reads

The women artists who found freedom in old age. (Hyperallergic)

Gillian Goodman on selling baby food, and the American dream. (Dirt)

Can fashion’s changing of the guard revive an ailing industry? (Dana Thomas via Substack)

OMG lobster print Mary Jane flats.

Lululemon registers LULULEMON DUPE: a dive into the strategy. (The Fashion Law)

Runs on relevance: How Dunkin’ made coffee cool again. (Because of Marketing via Substack)

My latest phone case with this PopSocket and this battery.

The surprising risk factor for dementia that has nothing to do with diet or exercise. (Self)

Peanut allergies have plummeted in children, study shows. (New York Times – gift link)

Adding this in Borealis to my winter walking wardrobe. Tempting to get the matching vest but the Borealis will go with the chartreuse one I got two years ago.

Everyone is a strategist and no one is a writer. (Gen Zero via Substack)

My fellow brunettes going gray, if you're looking for a micro thin brow pencil, I got this one from MAKE in Cool Taupe and it's pretty perfect. The Cool Brown is also great for those who find most brow products too warm.

How Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails changed the sound of movies. (GQ)

How Gap’s sleeper hit hoodie became the brand’s loudest classic. (Neverworns via Substack)

Speaking of chartreuse, I recently got this sweater and it's lovely (see it on me here).

I suck at eyeshadow, but this in Sartorial with a finger or a brush right at and slightly above the lid crease looks expert even if done haphazardly.

What is Victoria’s Secret under fascism? (Number Two Pencil via Substack)

They were journalists at major news outlets in New York and D.C. before taking big pay cuts to run the Midcoast Villager, a paper covering a rocky, coastal part of Maine. (New York Times – gift link)

Sale Alert & Style Inspo

This weekend, ELEMIS is offering a 5-piece gift, including the Allure Best of Beauty Winner Superfood Facial Oil, with any full-size purchase. Use code NOURISH at checkout.

new balance | dolce vita | veronica beard | rag & bone | puma | reformation | tory burch | naturalizer (wide available) | coach

Sure, white sneakers are classic, but this season is a real switch to brown shades. Personally, I love it as they aren't as hard to maintain and sort of blend into the woodwork to let the outfit shine. I think a low-profile pair, especially in suede, is versatile, elevated, and will be stylish for a good amount of time.

See/Hear/Read

Thank you, Cie, for reminding me in last Weekend Reads' comments, that The Diplomat is back for Season 3. (Netflix) We began watching it this week. Starring Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell as married diplomats, Russell for much of the seasons has been ambassador to the United Kingdom and her husband a bit of a star in political circles. If that's not enough star power for you, The Diplomat S3 also has Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford and standout acting from Nana Mensah, Ali Ahn (who has amazing hair), Ato Essandoh, and David Gyasi (gorg).

Russell's character Kate reminds me very much of a friend of mine, just in a different package and field of work. My friend is a retired attorney within the government, an incredibly intelligent and strong person who is sometimes too emotional, too forceful, too easily annoyed, but also utterly endearing. And especially considering where I live and what many of my friends and neighbors and old coworkers did for a living, Sewell plays his role incredibly well.

This season hits different, because it shows such a stark contrast from how our government is currently acting. The amount of respect, concern, care, and formality seen by the politicos in this show versus what we see from the current administration is, honestly, heartbreaking. It feels like watching a historical drama.

If you haven't watched The Diplomat, it is definitely a show to watch from S1 E1 forward. If you pop in Season 3 you won't enjoy or fully get it. But I think it is one of the best written, researched, and acted shows out right now. Even the mediocre episodes are better than the best of many of the series currently being released.

On the book front, I finished Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne. This was another Libby app random choice, attracted to the cover and the name. I am not a sociopath, and I do not know offhand of any sociopaths, but this book helped me understand those who are and destigmatize the mental disorder while sharing a very entertaining story.

That being said, researching after, a lot of folks question Gagne's diagnosis, retelling of the past, as well as her credentials. Her memoir is like a movie, and even I, with no background, could tell that parts were embellished or adjusted for a better story. None of this takes away from me enjoying this book and recommending it, but if you're looking for an authority or a resource on the topic, this is not it.

For Your Entertainment

I had been to the 9:30 Club before (the original one at 930 F Street in D.C.), but was going with my sister, this time, and we were going to see Juliana Hatfield. We went with my guy friend, who was late because he was skating, which I found so annoying. He then told us to wait as he went into the alley to try to score some weed, which was also annoying and performative, especially in front of my little sister. And by time he was finished and we got in line, the show was sold out. We headed back to the ‘burbs of Maryland but I have a place in my heart forever for Juliana Hatfield, and especially her song, “My Sister.”

Hatfield is back. Well to be more specific, Juliana Hatfield didn't go anywhere and never stopped making music, but she now has a Substack and has a new solo album, Lightning Might Strike, coming out in December with the latest single, “Popsicle,” released on YouTube this week.