weekly r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. #37
the morality of buying dupes, sugar-free snacks, and low-priced jewelry that looks $
Happy Monday! My weekly r.e.p.o.r.t. c.a.r.d. usually goes out on Sunday, but consistency > perfection, right?!
Even though winter in the Northeast can be a bit depressing, it’s been a good excuse to stay inside and get working on big goals for the year. I was chatting with a friend who recently moved to South Florida from NYC, and she noted that everyone feels just a tad less professionally motivated. Weather has a big impact on mood and it makes sense—when it’s April and gorgeous outside, I want to be outside having rooftop drinks with friends…not in front of my laptop.
From this summer. These days aren’t too far away!
So if you’re in a cold climate and feeling down, use this weather as an opportunity!
Another mindset hack I’ve been using—only allowing myself to watch TV solo when it’s tied to an activity. I find my screen time goes way up in the winter, so to combat that, I’m only letting myself indulge in TV shows when I’m walking on the treadmill & getting steps in (clad in my weighted vest!) or working on my wedding thank you notes.
Watching TV with my husband is always fair game, but by tying my TV consumption to another activity, it’s majorly upped my productivity (as well as my reading time).
If you’re in NYC and looking for an incredible brunch spot, Oxomoco delivers. Michelin-starred, reasonably priced, and one of the best meals I’ve had recently! I went with my mom and brother on Sunday and we were major fans!
Reading (book): I worship at the altar of Hitha Palepu’s book recommendations, so when she texted me and said I needed to read CARELESS PEOPLE, I immediately added to cart.
We all rely on Meta as a platform, so if you're curious about how the business really operates (and the treachery it took to gain market dominance!), you'll love this read. Written by a former Meta executive, it’s part thriller, part gossip-y memoir, and part business nonfiction. It’s shaping up to be one of my favorite books of the year!
Two other books that came up in conversation this week:
If you’re a generalist, this book is a must-read. It’s one of my most recommended professional development books (and one I get DMs about monthly). It dives into the power of generalists—and how knowing a lot (about a lot!) is ultimately their career sharp edge.
This is a hilarious, David Sedaris-esque read about one woman's late bloomer career journey. It teaches confidence, finding your voice, and discovering your passion in a funny rather than preach-y way. The best kind of self-help book!
Reading (article): An absolutely inspiring read. The New York Times’ cooking columnist woke up from a coma—and soon learned that her body would be profoundly altered (she need to have multiple limbs amputated). Cooking has always been core to her identity, so this essay speaks to how her relationship with cooking has changed and how she approaches her time in the kitchen differently.
Sharing via a gift link so everyone can read!
Eating: As my sugar cleanse continues, I am continually on the hunt for no sugar (or no added sugar!) snacks that still satisfy my sweet tooth. Fruit has been a go-to snack, and by extension, these no sugar added mango pops are spectacular.
100% mango purée and no added sugar. Delicious! 30 calories per pop.
Playing: With the idea of dupes. As someone who is a (highly) discerning shopper, I’m not easily lured in by marketing messaging. Brand names don’t thrill me—but product quality does.
But there’s also an ethical and moral angle to shopping dupes. I don’t know about you, but I feel absolutely icky scrolling the accounts of creators who are dedicated to only posting about dupes. If someone comes up with a category-changing product innovation, I believe they should be compensated for their hard work and genius—and it’s simply not right to shop the dupe. But if someone just comes up with a creative marketing plan for a product that already exists? I’m morally okay with shopping the dupe.
Where do you stand?!
Some of the dupe hard lines I abide by:
The Hulken. There are dupes out there, but they truly reinvented the way groceries are carried (and how stuff is schlepped around major cities). I’ve also tried dupes purchased by friends, and they’re simply not as good. JULIA10 is my code for 10% off.
My beloved lymphatic drainage & compression leggings. I talk about these leggings a LOT, but they really are that good. The founders created a brand-new category—lymphatic drainage leggings for the general public (not just for those with medical needs). I’ve tried the dupes, but they don’t deliver. Again, JULIA10 for 10% off!
Buying a fake designer bag. A new Chanel flap bag retails for $10K (not that I believe that price is warranted). A well-made dupe runs about $500. If I have the cash to buy a designer dupe, I’d rather spend it on a small designer I really love. (Independent bag designers I love: Poelle, Hunting Season, The Vin, Liffner…I could go on!) It’s less about craftsmanship here and more about looking inward. Do I really need the status symbol of a fake designer item to feel good about myself? Have you made this choice before?
Isn’t this so much more fun (and meaningful) than a fake Chanel bag?!
However, some dupes I recently did buy that absolutely deliver (and I won’t be going to Confession about):
My Negative Underwear pajama dupes. Am I the sucker that paid $328 for pajamas? I am. And are the OGs amazing? Absolutely…but it’s going to make me sick if I think about their profit margin. Cotton PJs aren’t changing anyone’s life, so I’m okay buying the dupe. I shared a side-by-side comparison of the dupe and the OG here, but they’re 99% identical. Not worth buying the OG!
The Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray dupe. This product has won great fanfare from beauty bloggers and insiders alike…but it’s really just a hypochlorous acid spray gussied up in a nice package. With the dupe, you’re literally getting the exact same product—yet you’re paying $2.18 per oz vs. a staggering $12 per oz.
These fun silver sneaker dupes. Miu Miu, Valentino, Dries Van Noten, and Bottega Veneta included sneaker styles in recent collections, and there’s been a major trickle-down effect. I don’t feel guilty buying a designer trend when it’s replicated in the broader market vs. purchasing a full-on knock off. Inspiration has to come from somewhere! These are adorable, super comfy, under $100, and pack a Tin Man punch (as my brother likes to say).
Obsessing: As someone who makes their living behind a screen, I’m pretty embarrassed to admit that I didn’t have a laptop sleeve until now. That’s like not wearing a helmet. If my laptop gets damaged…I’m screwed. Yes, there’s always the cloud, but you don’t want your hardware to break!
This laptop sleeve is the perfect blend of function and fashion. It nicely cushions my laptop, fits nicely in my go-to work tote, and comes in a bevy of colors (including my favorite one, olive green!) A total winner purchase I should have made sooner.
Recommending: I did a headshot refresh over the weekend, and realized that I was missing a core wardrobe element—fun, statement-making jewelry. I’ve been more focused on clothes that make a statement that I seem to have completely neglected the jewelry part of things! Some pieces I’ve added to my cart:
How FUN is this resin heart necklace?! A great addition to a v-neck like this…or simply layered over a basic crewneck tee. Works in all seasons too!
These amazing vintage-inspired earrings. $44 but look $$$!
And finally, this gorgeous brown leather necklace—love that you can swap out the charm for another piece in your jewelry box (a true two-in-one!)
Admiring: Some things, people, and content I’ve been loving this week:
Hitha Palepu sent me Hanna Horvath’s recent Substack on the reality that everything is now private equity. Worth reading if you want a behind-the-scenes peek at how (and why) product quality is deteriorating at your favorite brands.
Love this Mongolian cashmere cardigan. Under $90, 100% cashmere, and looks way more expensive than its price point.
I’m writing a whitepaper about networking and how it’s changing in this ever-shifting AI era. If you want to get better at networking and want to take part in some quick, fun research, learn more here!
❤️ If you enjoyed this post, please engage via the heart button at the bottom. It helps others discover my content!
👋 For more, follow along on Instagram!
Didn't expect this take on screen time. That 'tying TV to an activity' idea is brilliant for winter. So practikal!
Love the distinction between innovation dupes vs marketing dupes. The Hulken example nails it, when someone solves a real problem that didn't have a solution,supporting them makes sense. I've definitley fallen for fancy packaging before only to realizethe product itself is commoditized.