VARSITY READER: issue #31

the comfiest Mary Janes, how to reduce your screen time, and a must-watch thriller

Hi! Happy Friday from Miami. Here for a friend’s wedding, which I’m going to solo (a first for me). My fiancé has a work event, and while I’d love to have him by my side, I’m actually really excited to go stag.

I’ve found that some of the most interesting conversations I’ve had happen at events where I’ve been forced to get out of my comfort zone and talk to strangers. This is why I advise going to networking or career-minded events solo. If you go with a friend, you’re going to stay by their side the entire night and not meet new people. Brave the event alone and put yourself out there. You’ll be surprised at the outcome.

I packed last-minute for my trip and am still unsure of my outfit for the wedding tomorrow, but this dress is a strong contender. I’ve worn it to a ton of weddings and black-tie events, and even sported it for my future BIL and SIL’s wedding in Italy last year. Fits like a glove—and is under $300. A must if you’re a frequent wedding guest.

When I got this dress tailored for length last year, the tailor guessed that it was $2500 based on the way it fit. It’s a crepe fabric that drapes and hugs the body beautifully.

Another perk of solo travel is solo dinners. I love indulging in a good dinner alongside a juicy book. I just started this, which I’m loving. It’s about an LA Muslim woman who is determined to marry rich. Sharp, funny, and a lot of cultural insights.

Last night’s dinner at Komodo—so, so good. My blood was boiling at the bros next to me, who were talking about how their wives “did nothing” on maternity leave. Um…

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!

This week’s media diet

1. I just started ADOLESCENCE earlier this week, and wow. Not a comfort watch—it’s about a thirteen year-old accused of murder. But it’s a masterful thriller. I feel like TV has been a bit dry lately (besides WHITE LOTUS, of course), and this breaks the spell.

2. On that note, I loved this Architectural Digest tour of Walton Goggins’s home (a breakout WHITE LOTUS star this season). His Hudson Valley space is very rustic and has so much history.

3. If I’m low on podcast inspiration, I’ll search my favorite brands and see if their founders have ever appeared on any podcasts. I’m a Tru Fru superfan (just tried their white chocolate-covered pineapple earlier this week for the first time…yum), so I loved hearing about the founder’s story on this podcast.

4. A good NYMag read about women’s hair loss. Something we’ll all probably experience at some point, but isn’t talked about a ton.

5. This newsletter is called VARSITY READER for a reason. I’m not really into sports (and scored four points per season on my grade school basketball teams). But I’ve been sucked in by the historic basketball season of St. John’s University. (I’m the only one in my immediate family who isn’t a Johnny. and my parents met there). They just won the Big East, but that wasn’t by accident. A billionaire alum invested a ton of money into the team, and the team is led by a coach plagued by scandal. The basketball is great, but the storylines have kept me hooked.

The career corner

Sun! It’s so good for the soul. My time in Miami has made me realize that while I love my home office (a peek into the decor here), it’s a windowless room that I spend multiple hours in per day. A few boundaries I’ve recently set to reduce my screen time and spend more time outdoors:

1. Not all calls need to be video calls. I take all prospective client calls as phone calls vs. video calls. This gives me the flexibility to get steps in and not be tethered to my desk all day. If you lead a team and you’re feeling screen overload, try to fold this into your culture. Perhaps daily stand-up calls or weekly check-ins can be video optional.

2. Invest in a computer tent. This sounds ridiculous, but really is a game-changer. I bought one of these a few years ago, and love it dearly. It provides full-coverage shade for my computer, so on those spring / summer days when I really want to be basking in the sun but have work to do, I can do a bit of both. Highly recommend!

3. Lean into voice notes. I’m a writer by nature and love catching up with friends via text. While there’s nothing like a good text exchange with a friend, texting is time-consuming. I’ve been leaving friends voice notes more and more—and they can either listen to my voice or read my note via Apple’s AI transcription. Even though it takes a while to get used to, it’s easier to catch friends up on life happenings this way. Try it!

   1. An alternative:

      The Cabro’s Substack
      (aka Catherine of The Cabro) recently introduced me to Marco Polo, an app that allows you to asynchronously send video messages to friends. Though it’s a video app, it allows you to quickly capture your thoughts (and friends can respond at their leisure). A good texting alternative.

Three damn good buys

Ah! Mary Janes. They’ve been trending for the past two seasons, and I was a total skeptic at first.

While I loved Mary Janes on Twiggy, I wasn’t sure if they were for me.

Before I purchased my first pair, these questions swirled in my mind:

1. They seem like a total recipe for discomfort—isn’t the strap going to be digging into my foot?

2. Will I look like a Catholic schoolgirl?

3. Are they too trendy—and should I just invest in a regular pair of flats instead?

All valid questions. But over the past few months, I’ve become a total Mary Jane convert. The first pair I purchased ended up being a total winner.

I really did walk 20K steps the first day I wore them. I’ve never had that experience with flats before. I love the woven design as an alternative to plain black. The strap concerns I had ended up being moot—the strap doesn’t dig into my feet at all.

As for my Catholic school girl hesitancies, not a problem. As long as you edge up the Mary Janes with sleeker pieces, the prissy overtones go out the window. I’m wearing them here with one of my favorite blazers, as an example of how to style.

The brand recently came out with this raffia colorway, which is adorable. Perfect for spring / summer (and you know they’ll be comfortable).

Now, I’ll be honest. The third damn good buy skews a bit mobster.

These shoes would look great with Tony’s shirt (or Paulie’s tracksuit).

I recently engaged Nicole, an incredible NYC stylist, to help me organize and revamp my wardrobe. (Some pro tips from her here). Though I love fashion and have a strong sense of personal style, I wanted a third-party POV on how to optimize my wardrobe.

Nicole identified that I only have four pairs of comfortable, professionally-appropriate shoes. These are all shoes I can walk 20K steps in and step into a meeting / event looking and feeling my best.

1. My beloved Mary Janes (of course!)

2. My chunky black zip-up boots

3. My four-inch black tall boots I can walk miles in

4. My black loafers I’ve had for over five years

To maximize my wardrobe, Nicole suggested that I buy a more eclectic (yet comfy!) flat walking shoe to reflect my personal style. I love taking fashion risks and dressing boldly, and while I love my shoe collection, my picks are more on the basic side.

So when I saw these calf-hair zebra loafers, I immediately saw them fitting into my day-to-day. Funky…but pass the 20K step test. Since I’ve had them in the black colorway for years, I knew they’d be comfy.

I’ve been having fun with them so far, pairing them with sweats and a jean jacket…

…as well as more polished looks like these cropped velvet trousers.

Don’t be scared of the more out-there buy! I’m personally more inclined to spend on more eclectic items and save on basics. Who needs a black ALC tank top when these from Aerie are better than anything on the market?!

In case you missed it…

• The networking no-no we all need to correct

• The peel-and-stick wallpaper that transformed my rental bathroom

• Nine books to help you level up at work

• My home office must-buys

• Eight independent fashion designers that deserve your dollars

• My eight core values as a content creator

❤️ If you enjoyed this post, please engage via the heart button at the bottom. It helps others discover my content! (Thanks

Devan Jesmer

for the language inspiration!)