VARSITY READER: issue #16

five great reads, bad career advice, and the $45 summer dress of your dreams

Happy Wednesday! It’s my mom’s 60th birthday today, and since an eldest daughter can never *really* rely on her siblings, I got some help to pull off the celebrations.

My mom (Alice) went back to school for social work when she was 57, and graduated with her MSW at 59. She’s a testament to the fact that you can always reinvent yourself and redefine your path.

Our 2022 trip to Barcelona, when we visited my sister Molly who was studying abroad.

And this morning, the sound of her lifting weights at 5:30AM woke me up. Was definitely feeling more annoyed than inspired. But she’s a great role model nonetheless!!!

At 35 and 5!

On that note, I recently rounded up nine women who made later-in-life career pivots. A great hit of inspiration—and a reminder that it’s never too late.

In other news, I started a Substack chat! It’s a place for everyone to network, share interesting articles / podcasts / buys, ask for advice, and more. Free to join! I did this for a few reasons:

• I’m part of many Substack chats that I love—namely,

  Grace Atwood
  ’s,
  Magasin
  , and
  What I Put On Today by Meg Strachan
  . They feel like an unspoiled part of the Internet with genuine product recommendations and kind people. Why not do the same for my community?

• On the career front, I’ve seen *so many* paid networking communities crop up over the past few months. Pay $500, they say, and be connected to an incredible network of people. But these communities never reach the critical mass necessary to be worth the money. Not about scams over here…happy to foster a *free* community!

• I want to interact with all of you! I have a broadcast channel on Instagram, where I share an article and another fun thing per day. Join if you haven’t already—it’s a lot of fun! But the Instagram product team made a critical mistake…no one can write back. It’s like I’m screaming into the void!

P.S. If you’re new around here, welcome! I’m Julia, a brand strategist and content creator based in NYC. I partner with clients to tell standout stories—whether they’re an executive changing careers or a CPG brand looking to reach a new audience across platforms. You can find me on Instagram and TikTok @smarterinasec, learn more about me / my services on my website, and of course, right here on Substack.

Let’s dive in!

My favorite articles of the week (not shared anywhere else!)

As a varsity reader, I run through articles like athletes run marathons. There’s no way I’d be able to share every article I read (and adore!) on social media each day. Here’s five more, just for you:

• The Jock's Guide to Getting Into College (Town & Country): The wild things parents do to ensure their student-athlete gets into an Ivy. Varsity Blues…but slightly more kosher.

• Equinox's new $40,000 membership promises to help you 'live 100 healthy years.' Longevity experts say doing these 4 simple things will work just as well. (Business Insider): We are truly at peak longevity—and a lot of the fads are marketing BS. On another note, you will never *ever* see me promoting a supplement / medication / anything medical. I got a B in AP Bio…and that’s the extent of my medical knowledge!

• Step Inside Emma Roberts’s “Grown-up Dollhouse” in LA (Architectural Digest): Her home feels very Hill House in the best way!

• How Uniqlo’s ‘Millennial Birkin’ Is Beating Designer Bags (Businessweek): This bag is truly magnificent. $20, logo-free, roomy, and comes in a rainbow of colors. Loved learning more about its meteoric rise vs. the LV totes of the world.

• Brand Crush—La Ligne (

  Sarah’s Retail Diary
  ).
  Sarah Shapiro
  ’s Substack is one of my favorites for its thoughtful analysis of retail trends. La Ligne is worn by every influencer and seemingly blew up overnight, so if you’re a varsity shopper, you’ll love this piece.

Career tip of the week

What’s the worst career advice you’ve ever heard?

I’ll go first. It’s “do what you love…and the money will follow.” College graduation season is fast approaching, and this adage will be thrown out during dozens of commencement speeches.

I agree that work is way, way easier when you’re passionate about what you do. And life is short…you *should* be doing what you love. But many fields aren’t high-paying, and won’t be for decades. Gen Z prioritizes work-life balance and mental health more than any other generation. So why not help them maximize their talents and strive for what they want?

Instead, my reframe is “Figure out what you’re good at and the lifestyle you want. Then, map those skills to specific functions to build a career you’re passionate about *that also* supports your financial goals.”

What are your thoughts on this?!

Three damn good buys

If you’re still in need of a standout Mother’s Day gift, my full Mother’s Day gift guides can be found here and here! They’re all gifts I’ve given in the past to great fanfare.

1. Personalized thank you notes (business or personal!)

I got engaged a few weeks ago, and we have been lucky enough to receive a few special engagement gifts from family and friends. I went searching for personalized thank you cards we could customize with our initials, and WOW. Stationary may just be a Ponzi scheme. One place quoted me $500 for 70 cards?! What?

Then I remembered this darling Etsy shop I ordered my stationary from last year. The shop has gorgeous printed and lined envelopes—I personally own this gorgeous chinoiserie set.

In addition to the shop’s ready-made options, they can customize ANYTHING! My fiancé and I are switching the color palette of this set from black to blue and adding our initials. $35 for a 10-pack! High-quality and super well-priced…a total win.

2. A gold evening bag

A good evening bag is hard to find…especially in a metallic hue. I splurged on this gold clutch earlier in the year, which I adore. The sculptural shape is super unique and strikes the balance between unique and classic. $595 and a stunner.

But during a late-night scroll, I found this $80 clutch…which is nearly identical. Fits a phone and is way more budget-friendly.

3. The basic black summer dress

Do I splurge on clothes? Yes. But they must adhere to very specific criteria:

• An intricate pattern or finishing that can’t be replicated by lower-cost retailers (e.g. lace)

• A basic piece I’ll wear a ton—but with a special detail that feels luxe / unexpected (like the long sleeves / big buttons on my denim blazer)

I rarely ever splurge on summer dresses—they get beat up, spilled on, and shoved in suitcases. And with the right accessories, a $50 dress can easily look $500.

So I was beyond impressed when I tried on this $45 dress. The fit was perfect, and with the same linen blend you’d find at Reformation. A true square neck is often hard to find and makes the dress feel way more elevated. Highly recommend!!!

In case you missed it

• A Mother’s Day celebration done right…by an eldest daughter

• Networking tips no one talks about, part #3

• The best things I read, ate, and watched this week

• The seven best podcasts I listened to in April

• When career development and Bravo collide

• Why you should throw an appetizer dinner party for your friends

• The app that will instantly give you $ for your unwanted clothes

• An ode to eldest daughters

• Six shows to watch if you miss Curb Your Enthusiasm

• The best protein powder I’ve ever tried

• How to rise above the naysayers when trying something new

• Networking tips no one talks about, part #2

• Networking tips no one talks about, part #1

• How to make your walks more challenging and muscle-building

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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.