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| MICHAEL Michael Kors Sloan Medium Top Handle Satchel |
Because these items are classified as "last acts," no further discounts (in the form of coupons) can be applied. Shipping, as always, is free on orders over $49.
Sale styles are currently an extra 40% off at LOFT, no code needed. I thought now might be a good time to review a few styles that I ordered earlier this year, as some of them are now on sale.
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| LOFT Camellia Garden Shirtdress // 0P // Pink Fizz |
FIT Fits a little small on top, so size up if you are buxom. Size 0P measures 34" in length, 17" at the bust, and 14" at the waist (flat measurements). Also offered in "maternity" sizes.
MATERIAL 100% polyester. It is lightweight, drapes nicely, and is not wrinkle-prone.
VERDICT This was a keeper. I like the print and its vibrant colors, and can see it becoming a weekend workhorse when the weather warms up. The flounce hem and the button front details are nice touches that make it a little dressy.
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| J Crew Striped Button-Shoulder Turtleneck |
▪ My other J. Crew sale picks (note that the code will only work on styles with prices ending in .99): Cropped Fatigue Jacket, Two-Tone Pointed-Toe Loafers, Drapey Wrap-Back Jumpsuit, The Teddy Coat in Plush Fleece, Long-Sleeve Belted Knit Dress, Lace Ruffle-Neck Top, Sophia Mules (55mm) with Glitter Heel, Résumé Dress in Stretch Ponte, and Drapey Tie-Waist Dress.
▪ "Unknown Tech Brands Aren’t Like Groceries. Don’t Just Grab Them." (The New York Times): "That’s not to say the tech behemoths are innocent ... [take] extra caution with obscure tech brands because it is something under your control."
▪ "What Beauty Players Can Teach the Consumer Sector About Digital Disruption" (McKinsey & Company): "The beauty sector is advanced because of the way beauty-loving consumers engage with the category. For decades, they have sought out innovations, embraced the stories behind brands, and enjoyed the shopping experience, solo and with others."
▪ "Vitamins for Your Hair, Nails, And Skin Are Everywhere on Instagram. Don’t Fall for Them." (Vox): "Take away the shiny packaging and celebrity endorsers, though, and you’re left with products plagued by the same problems as dietary supplements: There’s no good evidence that they can deliver on the results they promise, and a lack of government oversight and clear standards puts consumers at risk ... these supplements often contain multiple ingredients, and while one or two may have small studies supporting a benefit, there are no large, well-designed studies to demonstrate how they all work in tandem."
▪ "Glossies So White: The Data That Reveals the Problem with British Magazine Covers" (The Guardian): "Of 214 covers published by the 19 bestselling glossies last year, only 20 featured a person of colour. That’s only 9.3%, although 13.7% of the UK are BAME."
▪ "The RealReal — The Fashion Site That Sells Secondhand Gucci and Louis Vuitton — Wants To Raise a New $100 Million Investment" (Recode): "Wainwright, the founder ... is currently pitching investors about raising a fresh $100 million in new funding, multiple sources have told Recode. The company has already raised more than $170 million since it launched seven years ago."
▪ (Video Link) "Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" (YouTube)
▪ "Many People Taking Antidepressants Discover They Cannot Quit" (The New York Times): "Long-term use of antidepressants is surging in the United States ... Some 15.5 million Americans have been taking the medications for at least five years. The rate has almost doubled since 2010, and more than tripled since 2000. Nearly 25 million adults ... have been on antidepressants for at least two years, a 60 percent increase since 2010 ... Antidepressants were originally considered a short-term treatment for episodic mood problems, to be taken for six to nine months: enough to get through a crisis, and no more."
▪ "The Murder that Shook Iceland" (The Guardian): "With a small, mostly homogenous population of 340,000 and a high degree of economic equality, Iceland is one of the world’s safest nations. It is the only NATO member without a standing army. Gun ownership is high ... but the weapons are purchased for hunting rather than self-defence, and very seldom misused. Violent crime is rare. Between 2000 and 2015 there were an average of just 1.6 murders a year, with most of the perpetrators and victims young men known to each other. In 2008, there were no homicides at all. Police are not armed, and the ReykjavÃk force’s Instagram feed shows officers eating ice-cream, sledding and posing for selfies. The feeling of security is bolstered by Icelanders’ tendency to look out for one another, a tradition that dates back to times when close collaboration was essential to make it through the long, brutal winters."
▪ Dresses and other one-pieces are now 30% off with code 30OFFDRESSES at Forever 21 . My picks: Polka Dot Tulip Dress (in my cart), Palm Tree Print Cami Dress (also in my cart), Heart Print Surplice Wrap Dress, Gingham Tie-Front Cami Dress, Plunging Self-Tie Chiffon Dress, Ruffled Tropical High-Low Dress, Polka Dot Ruffle Wrap Dress, and Floral Skater Dress.
▪ (After every AliExpress visit, I am often overcome with the desire to decamp to the woods for good. But maybe some of you will appreciate this rec.) "Letter of Recommendation: AliExpress" (The New York Times): "AliExpress is not a destination so much as a hobby ... AliExpress taps you directly into manufacturing hubs and supply chains."
▪ "Elastic Waistbands Are Back in Fashion at Lands’ End" (The Wall Street Journal): "The company posted a profit for the year ended in February after two years of losses. Sales in that year rose 5.3% to $1.41 billion. And the number of customers who shopped with Lands’ End for the first time jumped 30% in the fourth quarter, compared with the same period a year ago ... new products customers didn’t want had crowded out best-sellers such as walking shoes, elastic waistband Starfish pants, and canvas totes ... Lands’ End’s catalog has reverted to its utilitarian style with product shots and descriptive text ... Lands’ End is still dependent on Sears, which has been shrinking. It operates roughly 174 shops at Sears stores, representing 11% of its overall sales."
▪ "Bitcoin’s Hype Vanishes Just Like That: ‘We’re in the Boring Phase’" (The Wall Street Journal): "Bitcoin’s average daily trading volume this month is about 70% lower than on the most active days at the end of last year ... Mainstream interest in the cryptocurrency market has diminished."
▪ (Mute the tab; the video on top autoplayed for me.) "I Downloaded the Information That Facebook Has on Me. Yikes." (The New York Times):"With a few clicks, I learned that about 500 advertisers ... had my contact information, which could include my email address, phone number and full name. Facebook also had my entire phone book, including the number to ring my apartment buzzer. The social network had even kept a permanent record of the roughly 100 people I had deleted from my friends list over the last 14 years, including my exes."
▪ Recently purchased: Ann Taylor Gingham Moto Jacket, Salvatore Ferragamo Jelly Ballerina Flat, and Valentino Rainbow Rockstud Bow Pump .
Have a great week, everyone!
That isn't to say that things like high heels, as tortuous as some can be, have no place in modern society (because I would never voluntarily give mine up). But there have been palpable, seismic movements in fashion toward "comfort," bringing us entertaining concepts like suitjamas, dress pant yoga pants, and snockers (or sock sneakers).
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| Tory Burch McGraw Small Satchel |
I recently added to my closet this eye-catching Free People Floral Wrap Dress, which is offered in two colorways. I like the bright floral print, tulip sleeves, the airy silk-y material (100% viscose), and the midi/maxi hybrid length (though at 55" OAL, it's closer to ankle-length on 5'2 me; the fit is otherwise true to size for Free People). I wore it to brunch with friends the other day and it was received warmly.
The only feature about which I am indifferent is the deep v-neckline (if you are buxom, bralettes or camisoles might be necessary); for those who are comfortable forgoing a bra (though I would still recommend using nipple covers), the neckline should be no issue, but I opted to wear a lace romper underneath to raise the neckline and to avoid having to wear bike shorts underneath (the dress gapes in the front with movement and strong wind so a bottom layer is necessary).
You can buy the Free People Gorgeous Jess Wrap Dress at Shopbop, Macy's, Free People, Revolve, Nordstrom, Dillard's, Yoox, Lord + Taylor, and Zappos.
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| J. Crew Drapey Tie-Shoulder Jumpsuit |
While the extra discount pales in comparison to the extra 40% and 50% off promotions that we've come to expect from J. Crew, the items in the sale section have already been heavily discounted (up to 70% off before the additional discount), making this a very attractive sale.
The Bowpark Rain Jacket was one of my favorite purchases of 2016 (arguably my favorite from that year) and remains the jacket that I travel with for much of the year, as it has a detachable warmer vest that makes it suitable for most temperature ranges. As I mentioned below, the A-line shape is forgiving, so your normal Burberry size will work.
Some other (Burberry) picks for the Bloomingdale's F&F sale: Burberry Heritage Sandringham Mid-Length Trench Coat, Burberry Tringford Raincoat, Burberry Kensington Long Trench Coat, Burberry Heritage Kensington Mid-Length Trench Coat, Burberry Copford Quilted Jacket, Burberry Heritage Sandringham Short Trench Coat, and Burberry Baughton Quilted Coat.
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*Originally published on 04/26/16
For those who live in rainier places and value looking chic even in a downpour, the Burberry Brit Bowpark Raincoat may be a sensible splurge. This durable coat is designed for all seasons, with a removable wool-blend liner that adds warmth and weight and a detachable hood. While it isn't warm enough for New England winters, I can see it being an adequate option for those who live in places with mild winters.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Bowpark (with a generous A-line shape) fits larger compared to other Burberry styles (though those with wider shoulders or larger chests may want to order their normal size).
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| BP. Crop Trench Coat // Beige Nougat //XXS |
▪ "I Love My Unique, Personalized Stitch Fix Shirt—Oh, You Have One Too" (The Wall Street Journal): "In conference rooms, courtrooms and offices, professional men and women who use the online service say they are seeing fashion doppelgängers."
▪ (I've, in the last few months, become a loyal subscriber of Bon Appétit's YouTube channel. In particular, I love Pastry Chef Claire's segments, because of how effortless she makes extremely painstaking recipes look.) "What the ‘Pivot to Video’ Looks Like at Condé Nast" (The New York Times): "Over the last two years, Bon Appétit’s YouTube subscriber base increased from 34,000 to more than 1 million. In the same period, the number of monthly unique viewers for the videos on its website grew by nearly 2.5 million ... Over all, video now makes up a quarter of revenue for The Lifestyle Collection — that’s Bon Appétit, Architectural Digest, Epicurious, Condé Nast Traveler and ... Self. All told, these brands produce about 40 to 50 videos per week, and that doesn’t include those made for advertisers."
▪ "The Un-Cuddly Truth About Pandas" (The Wall Street Journal): "The image of the pathetic panda ... is a very modern myth ... The real panda is a secret stud, with a taste for flesh and a fearsome bite ... The real threat to pandas isn’t their incompetence but our mythology ... We need to let the pandas take care of themselves, something they can only do if we leave them with enough forest to live their secretly sexy lives."
▪ "Four Ways to Fix Facebook" (ProPublica): "... four concrete, practical reforms that could address some of Facebook’s main problems ... Impose Fines for Data Breaches ... Police Political Advertising ... Make Tech Companies Liable for Objectionable Content ... Install Ethics Review Boards."
▪ "These New Pharma Bros Are Wreaking Havoc on Prescription Drug Prices" (Bloomberg): "They tend to work with smaller, privately held companies and rarely post on social media. Patients haven’t raised much of a stink about prices, either, because they pay little or no money at the drugstore to get their drugs. Some of the largest insurers and pharmacy benefit managers have blocked ... high-priced drugs from coverage. Others allow exceptions or aren’t closely monitoring all claims. Smith’s and Bove’s approach depends on enough health plans covering the drugs to make a profit."
▪ All sale styles are an extra 40% off at Anthropologie, no code needed (discount reflects in cart). My picks: Dog Trinket Dish (ordered!), Skate Park Buttondown, Everyday Mock Neck Top, Tracy Reese Pleated Midi Dress, Cityscape Stapler, Maeve Mod Striped Knit Skirt, Dolan Left Coast Sanibel Tie-Waist Dress, and Plenty By Tracy Reese Vivid Stripe Column Dress.
▪ "Middle-Class Families Increasingly Look to Community Colleges" (The New York Times): "Already, some free community college initiatives have become magnets for middle-class students ... Middle-class parents who send their children to community colleges say it can send a powerful message to them about personal finance."
▪ "The Instagram Moodboard Community Is Having a Breakdown Over Polyvore Closing Down" (The Daily Beast): "... online shopping platform Polyvore suddenly shut down on Thursday afternoon, after being acquired by Montreal-based online fashion retailer Ssense ... moodboarders said that their creations allowed them a form of easy creative expression. Unlike other aesthetic-based accounts, creating moodboards does not require a high level of skill or artistic abilities. The community was also very welcoming and open to new members."
▪ "Invisibilia: Do the Patterns in Your Past Predict Your Future?" (NPR): "... being more realistic about patterns is important but hard to pull off because it involves accepting something that feels like a contradiction: that patterns are important and predictive ... but you can't say for sure whether those same things would influence the life of any individual kid because randomness has a lot more power over complex things like life than we like to think. Randomness ... is as important as pattern, though obviously it doesn't get the same respect in our algorithmic world."
▪ (I couldn't decide how seriously to take this claim, but found two articles that seem to support the idea that many institutions and establishments providing lodging don't use fitted sheets. I am not ready to call fitted sheets a scam though.) "Fitted Sheets Are a Scam" (Motherboard/Vice): "Most hotels, prisons, and the American military don’t use fitted sheets for various reasons."
▪ "Fashion Forward and Uncomfortable" (Vanity Fair): "The pressure on women to keep up with fashion and current style seems so much greater than it is for men that many of us go along with whatever ridiculousness the runway sends our way."
▪ "In a Disposable Age, Luxury Is Something Old, Worn, And Beautiful" (Quartzy) "In many wealthy countries, clothes have become practically disposable. Between 2000 and 2014, global clothing production roughly doubled, but the average number of times a person wore a garment before discarding it steadily fell ... Part of the reason we accept the low quality of a lot of clothing we buy today is because, ultimately, it doesn’t matter much."
▪ "Men’s Wear Just Had a Huge Designer Reshuffle: What Does It Mean?" (The New York Times): "... while the men’s wear market is healthy, it is still small compared to women’s, especially when leather goods such as bags and shoes are factored in; changing designers creates a sense of anticipation and excitement that calls attention to a brand, especially when ... the designers are famously master marketeers."
▪ Select styles are 50% off (and sale styles an extra 40% off) at Ann Taylor until 4/10 with code REFRESH. My picks: Cargo Joggers (own and love), Wide Scalloped Trouser Belt, Pointelle Mock Neck Poncho, Flounce Sleeve Sweater, Pointelle Turtleneck, Faux Wrap Knit Dress, and Liya Leather Block Heel Sandals.
▪ "Southeast Asia Fashion Startup Zilingo Continues Its Meteoric Rise with $54M Series C" (TechCrunch): "Raising this much money is rare over the life cycle of any startup in Southeast Asia, but to do it in less than 2.5 years after launching your product is unprecedented ... That platform strategy goes some way to explaining why investors are doubling down on the business."
▪ (This article draws heavily from a report released by Thredup, a resale site; I would advise taking these numbers with a grain of salt.) "Resale Is Expected to Be Bigger Than Fast Fashion Within 10 Years" (Fashionista): "... resale market will be worth $41 billion by 2022, and 49 percent of that will be apparel."
▪ Recently purchased: Ted Baker Women's Caprila Dress, Leith Cold Shoulder Midi Dress, UGG® Year Round Down Comforter , J.O.A. Tie Side Pants, and BB Dakota Lisanne Top.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Season by season (since mid-2016), I've found that Banana Republic's collection has grown more dependable, both in interpreting trends and in styling. I like that, for the most part, the brand has stayed focused on practical workwear that incorporates some trendy elements. The Banana Republic Soft Pleated Long Trench seen in this post is one of my favorite pieces for early spring: the length (42" long in XSP) might be challenging for those who are especially petite, but works well with both pants and skirts; and the material (100% Triacetate) drapes well but has enough weight to it to avoid being wrinkle-prone.
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| Ann Taylor Tie Neck Blouse ($15.99) |
Sale styles are an extra 60% off at Ann Taylor, no code needed. Shipping is free on orders over $125.
My picks: Fiesta Tweed Jacket ($39.99), V-Neck Tie Sleeve Blouse ($27.99), Striped Knit Wrap Scarf ($11.99), Striped Slit Cuff Sweater Dress ($29.59), Striped Cable Peplum Sweater ($18.79), Wide Rib Sleeve Sweater ($15.99), Pearlized Puff Sleeve Shift Dress ($49.99), Pearlized A-Line Doubleweave Skirt ($19.99), and Tiered Chiffon Ruffle Skirt ($19.99).
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| Grommet Tie Sleeve Sweater ($9.55) |
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Hundreds of new styles have been added to Nordstrom's sale section. Shipping, as always, is free on all orders.
More picks: Michael Kors Selma Medium Leather Satchel, Stuart Weitzman Tieland Over the Knee Boot, Rebecca Taylor Slub Suiting Jacket, Puma Suede Heart Sneaker, Leith Ruched Body-Con Tank Dress, Chelsea28 Bell Sleeve Fit & Flare Dress, Bardot Suri Polka Dot Peplum Dress, Baggu Nylon Backpack, Lush Knit Maxi Dress, Stuart Weitzman Hiline Over the Knee Boot, and Coffee Shop Water Resistant Raincoat.
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It'll be another 11 years before these two occasions align again, so I thought I'd incorporate both celebrations into this post. The outfit featured here is color coordinated to Easter, and below I've shared my favorite "fake" news and products from today.
Never one to let a perfectly good (made up) holiday pass me by, I will happily wear stripes on National Stripes Day (not that anyone needs a reason to wear stripes), because stripes are all-purpose and always in vogue.
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| LOFT Bouquet Split Flutter Sleeve Top (Size XXS) || Bouquet Flounce Skirt (size 00P) (Note that these two pieces are not coordinates.) |
▪ "Cheapskate Wardrobe Secrets from Ballerinas" (The Wall Street Journal): "Most outfits require strong base layers, and when it comes to finding the best ones, shopping experts get creative ... Enter the humble dance shop, where clever women since the Madonna era have joined actual ballerinas in scoring leotards, leggings and wrap tops for everyday use. Pieces from authentic brands like Capezio and Bloch usually cost less than $50. Highly functional, these stretch-imbued basics were made to grand jeté but can easily handle le subway."
▪ "H&M, a Fashion Giant, Has a Problem: $4.3 Billion in Unsold Clothes" (The New York Times): "H&M outlined the buildup in its latest quarterly report on Tuesday, prompting questions of whether the company is able to adapt to the fierce competition and changing consumer demands reshaping the global apparel market. Signs of its expanding unsold inventory began emerging last year, when it reported an unexpected quarterly drop in sales. The decline was the first in two decades ... Foot traffic in the past year fell as customers eschewed crowded shop floors in favor of online shopping, or lower-cost offerings elsewhere ... On Tuesday, the company said the pile of unsold stock had grown 7 percent in the past year and was now worth nearly 35 billion Swedish kronor."
▪ "What Are Screens Doing to Our Eyes—And Our Ability to See" (Wired): "If computer vision syndrome has been invented as a catch-all to express a whole range of fears, those fears may not be confined to what blue light or too much close-range texting are doing to the eyesight. Maybe the syndrome is a broader blindness—eyes that don’t know how to see and minds that increasingly don’t know how to recognize nondigital artifacts, especially nature."
▪ "The Rise, and Demise, of 'Basic Bitch' Fashion" (Fashionista): "To be 'basic' now is to be whatever you want ... In fact, the 'basic bitch' never existed. She was a myth dreamed up by us to explain our resentment for and animosity toward mass popularity. She was our insecurities, drummed up into a physical form we used to crucify certain trends we didn't like."
▪ Everything is 50% off at J. Crew Factory, no coded need. (Use code GOODIES to take an extra 50% off clearance styles.) My picks: Scalloped Cami Top, 3" Tie-Waist Short, Tiered Ruffle-Sleeve Cardigan Sweater, Hooded Anorak Pullover, Sawyer Suede Boots, Winnie Pant with Scalloped Hem, Wool Sidewalk Skirt, and Cold-Shoulder Tank Top.
▪ "How Shyp Sunk: The Rise And Fall Of An On-Demand Startup" (Fast Company): "Shyp has often been described as 'the Uber of shipping,' but creating the Uber-of-something is no longer a way to get venture capitalists to write checks. That doesn’t mean that sanity prevails in Silicon Valley, just that its irrational exuberance has moved on to other domains."
▪ "Some Marine Layer Stores Are Getting Second Jobs as Airbnbs" (Racked): "Marine Layer, a California-based fashion brand that’s been around since 2011 and is known for super-soft T-shirts and a chill West Coast sensibility, is dipping its toes into something Instagram-crazed millennials will appreciate: The brand is renting out apartments on Airbnb. And not just any apartments; apartments in touristy cities filled with interior design porn like mode vintage furniture, fiddle-leaf fig trees, and kitschy tchotchkes. Oh, and free snacks."
▪ "How a Young Woman Lost Her Identity" (The New Yorker): "... dissociative fugue, a rare condition in which people lose access to their autobiographical memory and personal identity, occasionally adopting a new one, and may abruptly embark on a long journey. The state is typically triggered by trauma—often sexual or physical abuse, a combat experience, or exposure to a natural disaster—or by an unbearable internal conflict. "
▪ "The Myth Of Traveling Light" (Buzzfeed): "... traveling light is, at heart, about going solo ... the real trick to traveling light is ... only that you accustom yourself to leaving things behind."
▪ Sale styles have been further discounted at H&M, and are now up to 80% off. Shipping is free on orders over $40 with code 0040. My picks: Crêped Dress, Shaping Skinny Regular Jeans, Draped Bodysuit, Jumpsuit, Short Lace Dress, Cashmere Scarf, Ankle Boots, Knit Dress, and Satin Top.
▪ "Globalization’s Backlash Is Here, at Just the Wrong Time" (The New York Times): "In short, the anti-globalization drive that is spreading across the Western world may be coming at exactly the wrong time — too late to do much to save the working-class jobs that were lost, but early enough to risk damaging the ability of rich nations to sell advanced goods and services to the rapidly expanding global middle class."
▪ "Nothing You Say Online Is Private" (Bloomberg): "The best way for individuals to safeguard their information is to limit what they share in the first place."
▪ "MoviePass’s All-You-Can-See Deal: The Pros and Cons" (The Wall Street Journal): "MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe recently described it to me as 'bad movie insurance,' even while admitting that might not be the best marketing speak."
▪ Join the A&F Club (membership is free; as a new member, you will also be sent a $20 off a $50 purchaes code) and take 50% off everything at Abecrombie & Fitch, no code needed. My picks: Shirt Jacket, Tie Waist High-Rise Shorts, Utility Jumpsuit, Low-Rise Ankle Jeans, Classic Raincoat, Low-Rise Chino Pants, and High-Rise Super Skinny Jeans.
▪ "Here’s What Really Happens to Your Used Clothes" (Racked): "... of the 4.7 billion pounds of clothing that Americans donate every year, only 10 percent of it is fit for resale at US thrift stores ... the rest is sold to commercial used clothing dealers and textile recyclers at bulk prices, who in turn export it — 1.6 billion pounds annually with a value of more than $550 million — for resale or recycling around the world, making the United States the world’s largest exporter of used clothing."
▪ A subreddit that I recently subscribed to and now can't get enough of is r/Awwducational; it's a must for anyone who enjoys obscure or fun animal facts. For instance, I recently learned that "hippos can't really swim. Their big bones are too dense and heavy, so they just push off the ground, walking or bouncing off the bottom."
▪ "Is Saudi Arabia Ready for Runway Fashion Shows?" (The New York Times): "... last Friday, just three days before an opening-night gala was to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s first fashion week, the event was abruptly postponed ... the fashion shows in Riyadh will come at a time when Saudi Arabia’s religiously conservative rules constraining the attire of women outside their homes are showing signs of relaxing. In an interview with '60 Minutes' on CBS this month, the crown prince said that women should be able to choose what they wear."
▪ Everything is 40% off at Ann Taylor with code HOPTOIT until 3/31/18. A recent order: Scallop Trim Blouse (a new fav), Stripe Ruffle Shoulder Sweater, Scallop Trim Flare Sleeve Shift Dress, Flutter Sheath Dress, Belted Pleated Wide Leg Pants, and Box Pleat Tee.
▪ "What It's Like to Die Online" (Marie Claire): "In a way, YouTube has allowed people like Castellano to cheat death. At any time, her family and followers can go back and watch her hundreds of videos as if she were still here."
▪ "Self-Storage: How Warehouses For Personal Junk Became a $38 Billion Industry" (Curbed): "One in 11 Americans pays an average of $91.14 per month to use self-storage ... the United States boasts more than 50,000 facilities and roughly 2.311 billion square feet of rentable space. In other words, the volume of self-storage units in the country could fill the Hoover Dam with old clothing, skis, and keepsakes more than 26 times."
▪ Recently purchased: 1901 Seersucker Shirtdress, Madewell Silk Fleur Bow Back Dress (also here), ASOS Bow Jumpsuit In Structured Fabric, Boohoo Printed Tie Front Playsuit, and Tibi Flap Detail Urban Stretch Skirt.
Enjoy the rest of your week, everyone!
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| Kimberly Embroidered Dress |
The free shipping code will also take 10% off "new season styles." Here are a few items that I recently ordered: Melina Paperbag Pants (love these; will feature in a future post), Lottie Pumps, Clarissa Jumpsuit, Jersey Midi Skirt, and Leila Shirt Dress.
Here are all of the items that I intend to order (and will review for anyone curious about the collection, if I can get my hands on them) on the day of the launch:
The sweater-blazer has quickly overtaken cardigans as the ultimate business-casual piece (imo), and will also transition easily for weekend wear with a basic tee, jeans, and sneakers.
If you still have an active Facebook account, Zappos will send you a "$25 off orders over $50" rewards code for joining the Zappos Rewards program (membership is free).
Once you register for the program, go to this offers page on Facebook, and click on the green "Save for Later" button. When you return to the offers page, a unique code will become visible. Or, check the inbox associated with your account, as the code will also be emailed.
My picks: Osprey Daylite Backpack, Hunter Half Cardigan Boot Socks ($50; I own and love this sock), Nike Free TR 7 Premium Training (I just got these), UGG Classic Cuff Short, Adidas Originals 3 Stripes Tights, Smartwool Hunt Heavy Crew, Osprey Skarab 18 Backpack, and Adidas Tiro '17 Pants.
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| Club Monaco Ellayne Trench |
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| Ann Taylor Button Cuff Wrap Dress // 00P // Rich Red Velvet |
▪ "Getting the Cartier Crowd Hooked on Cheap Credit" (Bloomberg): "The company hasn't said how much it will issue, but it will probably be big ... Richemont's single A+ grade at S&P Global Ratings makes it a natural candidate for the central bank's 143 billion euro ($176 billion) portfolio ... the luxury market has been turbo-charged by a revival in Chinese demand and confidence among U.S. consumers, and this has elevated valuations. "
▪ "The Trench Coat: An Obsessive, Comprehensive Guide" (The Wall Street Journal): "Despite its more vulgar connotations, the style is rooted in British aristocracy, having been originally developed as a sporting coat for the upper crust. It soared to broader popularity during World War I, when British officers adopted the weatherproofed, double-breasted, oft-belted style (typically in khaki) for use on the front lines ... Easily dressed up or down, the trench has unswervingly stayed in fashion—nearly every designer worth his salt has riffed on the theme."
▪ "What's Acne Studios Worth?" (The Business of Fashion): "Acne co-founders Jonny Johansson and Mikael Schiller have reportedly been in conversation with the American investment bank for several months now and are likely to launch a formal sale process after the summer ... The company could fetch a valuation of €400 million to €500 million in an outright sale — and maybe more if there is competition from multiple bidders. This would imply a valuation multiple of 2 to 2.5 times revenue."
▪ "A Lesson in American Greatness" (The Economist): "Since [the Refugee Admissions Programme] was launched in 1980 it has had an average quota of 95,000 refugees a year, more than that of any other rich country. America has also tended to take the most forlorn cases. Some were victims of its foreign-policy blunders ... Yet this tendency also reflected the values and self-confidence of a country founded by fugitives, which, over the ensuing four centuries, has been relentlessly successful at turning them into productive citizens ... For though it is true that refugees represent a bigger upfront cost than other migrants—America spends between $10,000 and $20,000 resettling each one—they repay that in spades. A decade after their arrival, the average income of a refugee family is close to the American average. "
▪ Until the end of today, take 60% off select styles at Abercrombie & Fitch. My picks: Shirt Jacket, Silk Button-Up Shirt, Button Mock Sweater, Wool-Blend Swing Coat, Lace Hem Tee, and Pleated Cami.
▪ "Marijuana Is the New Gold for Mining Companies Going to Pot" (Bloomberg): "The number of companies that started in the mining or oil and gas sectors that are now part of Canada’s burgeoning marijuana industry has jumped to more than 40. In all, almost half of the country’s marijuana firms started out in the resource sector before many converted to pot via reverse takeovers and spinoffs."
▪ "China’s New Frontiers in Dystopian Tech" (The Atlantic): "Quietly and very rapidly, facial recognition has enabled China to become the world’s most advanced surveillance state. A hugely ambitious new government program called the 'social credit system' aims to compile unprecedented data sets ... for all Chinese citizens. Based on this information, each person could be assigned a numerical score ... The goal of the program, as stated in government documents, is to 'allow the trustworthy to roam everywhere under heaven while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step.'"
▪ "Why Isn’t Wall Street Freaking Out About Trump?" (Politico): "To Wall Street pros, the story of Trump’s bull market is part luck, part policy and possibly a whole lot of irrational exuberance. When investors look past the daily theater, they mostly love Trump’s embrace of traditional Republican policies. He’s slashed regulations and cut corporate tax rates nearly in half, juicing profits and pumping cash into the economy. And they’ve guessed—correctly so far—that Trump the trade warrior and nuclear saber-rattler would remain mostly a cartoon character with little or no real-world impact."
▪ All sale styles are an extra 25% off with code SOEXTRA at Shopbop. My sale picks: MLM Label Mesa Shoulder Top, Black Halo Jackie Jumpsuit, Kate Spade New York Scalloped Bandeau One Piece, Endless Rose Tiered Ruffle Sleeve Peplum Blouse, Jade Swim Wrapped One Piece, Eugenia Kim Lina Bow Beanie Hat, and Loeffler Randall Mini Rider Bag.
▪ "Do Antidepressants Work?" (The New York Times): "... the effectiveness of antidepressants had been overstated, and that the benefit might be limited to far fewer patients than were actually using the drugs ... while many studies achieved statistical significance, they failed to achieve clinical significance ... The bad news is that even though there were statistically significant differences, the effect sizes were still mostly modest. The benefits also applied only to people who were suffering from major depression, specifically in the short term. In other words, this study provides evidence that when people are found to have acute major depression, treatment with antidepressants works to improve outcomes in the first two months of therapy.."
▪ "Nordstrom’s Biggest Bet Ever" (The Wall Street Journal): "The company’s decision to build in Manhattan’s saturated retail market presents a concerted risk ... Male shoppers are particularly sought after as one of the fastest-growing segments in apparel ... the company plans to subvert department store tenets ... Instead of siloing high fashion away in upper-floor shop-in-shops, Nordstrom will eschew hard partitions, using see-through floor-to-ceiling lengths of industrial chain mail to separate brands. Plans for a storewide liquor license will enable shoppers to roam with a tumbler of single malt from a second-floor bar called Clubhouse. VIP dressing rooms will be available for those who wish to linger, while those in a rush can order goods online ... and find them waiting in a dressing room located conveniently near an exit."
▪ "#deletefacebook" (TechCrunch): "Tools like Facebook were designed to connect us to the world, giving us an almost angelic view of daily happenstance. We replaced the churchyard with the 'timeline.' But our efforts failed. We are still as closed, still full of superstition, as we were a hundred years ago. We traded a market square for the Internet but all of the closed-mindedness and cynicism came with it. We still disparage the outsider, we still rant against invisible enemies, and we still keep our friends close and fear what lies beyond our door. Only now we have the whole world on which to reflect our terror."
▪ "Getting Ready Faster: Secrets From Stylish Women" (The Wall Street Journal): "... the smartest women take advantage of a zeitgeist that is endorsing ease, while they develop specific get-ready strategies of their own."
▪ "The Surprising Sweetness of Menswear Reddit" (Racked): "... a lack of style expertise is what makes MFA tick: if everyone already knew how to dress, there’d be no one to, y’know, advise. It’s also what gives the community its trademark niceness — a subreddit that’s all about people asking for help inherently rewards vulnerability."
▪ "More Families Feel Insecure. That’s Because They Are." (Slate): "General economic insecurity is worsening because Americans have earned less money over time, and benefits that previously shielded them from shocks ... have shifted from government and employers to individuals. People are less able to save and tackle both daily expenses and emergency costs when they come up. The result: People are both anticipating and experiencing hardship up and down the economic ladder."
▪ "Scrunchies, Scourge of the 1980s, Are Back" (The Wall Street Journal): "Women are wearing scrunchies again—in public, and most notably, to the office, where their presence is producing reactions ranging from unbridled enthusiasm, to jokes that might not be jokes, to silent judgment. Some scrunchie fans wonder if they will be taken seriously while wearing one."
▪ Recently purchased: A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo (from this video), Tularosa Marley Jumper, Ted Baker Lynetta Skater Dress, and Alice + Olivia Issa Blouse.
Have a great week, everyone!
