Long Live Online Shopping as Inspiration
On revisiting fast fashion (not to shop), what to wear with tights, and other personal updates
For the first time in a long time, there’s no guest on Long Live! I’ve loved the chance to hear more about other people’s wardrobes. And fear not! Many more exciting features to come. Until then, here’s a little 411 on what’s been going down behind the scenes.
Last week, I had the pleasure of flying to St. Louis for a good-old-fashioned work trip with Retta Jane. Over the past few months, I’ve been working with the brand’s founder, Retta, to bring the wonderful tween world to life. We shot the brand’s first catalogue with an all-star team over the course of a few days. I can’t wait to share the images. As a consultant, I treasure opportunities that feel as aligned and f-u-n as Retta Jane. If you’re a parent of a tween or a tween yourself (why are you reading this?), email me!
And then, Granty came to town! We had a family dinner, went to church, and marveled at his new car. Family time feels so cozy. I keep joking that one day I’ll have a proper guest bedroom to host in. For now, an air mattress in the living room does the trick.
We got our wedding pics back! I’m posting lots in Instagram, if that’s your thing. It’s been fun/overwhelming to relive the big day. I’m on a mission to create a physical photo book that does these stunning photos justice.
Writing life update! I continue to write for a bunch of outlets and have a few fun stories in the works. I’m in the middle of some consulting gigs and freelance projects—some more fun than others. TBH, I miss being full time a little bit. I’m nearly halfway through a novel draft I started at the end of last year. Once that’s done, I can’t wait to get back to writing essays. After finishing a collection draft, I really needed the freedom to explore fiction, regardless of how messy this novel draft shapes up to be.
Archived Outfit
Since I don’t shop fast fashion, I’m really never on fast fashion sites. But writing a story for Travel + Leisure this week, I ended up spending a whole afternoon combing sites like Mango, Banana Republic, and J. Crew for story picks. I realized what I’d been missing all along wasn’t the clothes on these sites, but the styling! Take this outfit, which maybe was on & Other Stories(?), for example.
The all-white ensemble under the longer tweed jacket feels so cool worn with black accessories. I’ve been eyeing a Chanel jacket—don’t worry, not this year!—and now have my sights set on one in this silhouette. Here are some secondhand options to recreate this outfit at home!
Here’s the vintage Chanel version on TRR for just under $600. Love the asymmetric front, but this color is way out of my wheelhouse.
Quite a similar style for $38 on Etsy! The button are a little 80s, but I don’t hate it!
A texture story from Sandro on eBay! It’s going for $50, but hey, I’m sure the seller would take $40.
Same story with this Rag & Bone one. It’s listed at $99, but offer $75.
If you’re like, “Tweed is so square and dull,” I hear you! And I raise you this $5 (not a typo) tweed kimono-style jacket from Sanctuary on eBay.
Honorable Mentions
Merci for the reader q’s, which I asked for over on Instagram. Keep in mind, you can simply reply to this email with any outfit situations or fashion-y questions.
An anonymous reader (my mom) wanted some advice on dressing for 50+
Well, I can’t speak from experience, but I have some thoughts.
Get cool shoes. Email the 20-something in your life and be like, “What sneakers are you wearing?” I love an older woman in Nike Dunks. I just do!
Embrace monochrome. If it’s an entire outfit of hot pink—send it! Pure white—you might not have babies, that seems like a safe bet. Make a simple statement.
Dress for you. I can’t wait to be 50+ and never ever wear a cropped shirt again. If you love the feeling of a tight dress, wear that. If you’ve always secreted preferred flowy silhouettes, now’s your time.
A friend wanted to know what shoes to wear with tights. A very excellent question. As an outed tight lover, here are my rules.
No sneakers—believe me, I’ve tried!
Try a slouchy sock with loafers or brogues in either the exact same color or a contrasting hue.
Leather boots are a shoe in.
Ballet flats + color tights = cute and fun!
If you’re stuck, match your tights with your shoes for a long line. Ruby Redstone is absolute royalty in the tight game, so follow her for hot takes and bright ideas.
Understandably, I got a few questions about the impending product launch! I’ll give you three clues.
It’s under $20.
It’s going to help you define and refine your personal style.
It’s coming out this month!
All This Could Be Different—We love a novel set in the Midwest! I was late to the party on this book, but loved it enough to hand over copies to two friends.
Prairie Fires—TBH I assumed this book would be an uphill battle. I mean, it’s long and biographies are usually my beat. But wow this was fascinating and dramatic and not at all what I expected. Fans of Little House on the Prairie, this is for you!
Inciting Joy—Reading essay collections by poets is a practice I’m trying to be more intentional about. Really, they’re the greatest optimists among us. I really liked this collection by Ross Gay.
If you’re still reading, I’m on Tiktok! Expect fun, less curated content about clothes and writing and life in NY. Listen, I’m as scared as you are! Thank you so much for reading. I’ll see you next, next week (with a special surprise)! x
you're doing the lord's work
this tracks - i sent my mom an entire pinterest board of fun sneakers recently haha