workplace & what-to-wear woes #6
a must-listen podcast, confidence @ work, and well-priced summer fashion
Happy Thursday! I’m currently on a flight to California for my sister Molly’s college graduation (she goes to Santa Clara University). She’s nine years younger than me—sometimes it feels like twenty years, and sometimes it feels like we’re the same age. She’s going to law school in the fall, and I’m so proud to be her sister!
My sister, dad, and I. ❤️
Then, I’m heading out on a cross-country road trip with my dad and sister on Monday. We’re driving my sister’s car back from CA, with planned stops in Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Salt Lake City, Omaha, and Cincinnati. I’m “not allowed to drive” (in the words of my dad & sister), so I’ve been relegated to planning (which I’m much better at anyway). I’ll be sharing more road trip content on Instagram and TikTok!
Finally, an ode to the chocolate cake I had last night at Avra. Truly divine. I went with a friend to celebrate a major career milestone of hers. I’m a chocolate cake fiend—and this is one of the best I’ve had in NYC. Highly recommend!
Let’s dive in!
A provocative listen
I was chatting with a single girlfriend earlier this week, who is a super accomplished woman living in NYC. We bonded over the fact that we’d rather be alone than be with someone who doesn’t challenge us intellectually, make us laugh, and bring light to our lives. This high bar is one of the many reasons why my first boyfriend (now fiancé) was at 27. The right person is worth waiting for (even if you’re like me and felt like a complete dating pariah!)
On that note, my friend recommended this fantastic Diary of a CEO podcast episode, where the guest is a prominent divorce lawyer. The lawyer drops some shocking statistics in the episode, including:
86% of people who divorce remarry within five years
70% of marriages fail (when failure is defined as those who are divorce and/or remain in unhappy marriages)
…and so many more
I highly recommend listening, no matter your relationship status.
I also appreciated the candid conversation about prenuptial agreements. Getting a prenup is more common than ever (especially as people get married later and later), but discussing it is still very taboo. I personally predict that the prenup conversation is the new fertility / IVF conversation—and prenups will be spoken about way more openly in the next few years.
A workplace woe
Instead of tackling a question this week, I wanted to share this quote. I’ve shared it on Instagram before, and always look at it when I need inspiration. Go for what you want (in your career & life!)—because there’s a lot of posers out there achieving your goals. You might be way more qualified, but something is holding you back. Shed that fear!
A what-to-wear woe
Q: What fun summer pieces should I add to my wardrobe? I want to embrace the fun colors / textures of the season—but not spend too much $$$!
I have you covered! Summer is a great season to play with your wardrobe and not invest a ton. Whereas there’s nothing worse than a cheap $50 winter sweater, a silky pair of printed pants may run you $70 and last multiple seasons.
Here, I broke down where to spend and save this summer!
Three summer items to invest in:
A damn good one-piece that always makes you feel confident. I invested in this one-piece last summer, and absolutely love it. It garnered compliments across age groups (even the most curmudgeonly relatives). It’s $215 and currently only available for pre-order.
This is an adorable alternative at $148.
Jean shorts! Finding the right jean shorts has been a years-long hunt. Not too short, not too long, and equally appropriate for beach days with friends and BBQs with conservative relatives. I wore these last summer in the presence of my aunt, whose face has puckered at some of my other fashion choices. But to my surprise, she said, “You look adorable!” The perfect fit and length.
$175, and the fit & shape have held brilliantly after multiple washes.
A summer dress you can dress up & down for multiple occasions. I have been a broken record about this Waimari white dress, but it truly is so stunning. The dress is now sold out across sites. (I paired with my beloved $63 jean jacket).
However, a few other independent dress designers I love / always make me feel my best:
Temptation Positano (Italian brand with small selection here, but the best merchandise is on their site—happy to connect you with the founder if you want to order directly)
Charo Ruiz (Spanish brand specializing in crochet—large selection here and very discounted pieces here)
Shoshanna (American brand with fun mini, midi, and maxi dresses—all of their pieces have some sort of bold or unique detail)
These designers are all on the pricier side, but their craftsmanship / support of female dressmakers is worth your $.
✍️✍️ Taking a page from
with this disclaimer! (If you don’t already subscribe, it’s a must for sharp fashion, beauty, and retail analysis). ✍️✍️Lots of good stuff in this edition. If you’re reading this post via e-mail, you may need to click through to the web version or read on the Substack app to read it all. I promise it will be worth your time. ❤️
And one item you should save on…
Beach bags. Unless you live at the beach, how many times per year are you *really* using a raffia beach bag? There are so many fantastic bags at low price points.
For example, take this rainbow raffia bag. I’m a sucker for color, so I love it…but at $395?!? No way.
This bag is very similar (and more than half the price at $150).
At an even better price point, this bag is hand-woven by female Mexican artisans and is $50.
If you’re looking for something more neutral, this bag is a winner. Comes in black and yellow. I was stopped on the street by two fancy-looking ladies this week in NYC who asked where I got the bag. Target! $35!
I also love this beige & black raffia bag. $55, but looks way more $$$
And finally, this green raffia bag. I love anything & everything green, and always get compliments on this Zara find. From a few seasons ago, but I found one on eBay. $50!
I will share more well-priced summer finds next week!
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***The fine print: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products that I use, love, and can’t live without.
Ha! Love the disclaimer. Great read - I always find great links and reads from you.