Woof it’s been a minute! I’ve had a hectic (but good hectic!) work month and I also did the very uncharacteristic thing of taking a week of for my bday. So I thought to catch you guys up we could just do a little tries and buys as of late.

Vanicream Enhanced Moisturizer: I got to test this out a little early and I absolutely love it. It feels like a serum for your body; it’s super lightweight and absorbs quickly but incredibly hydrating.

Maison Louie Maris Vanille Infinite: Longtime MG shoppers will know I never miss a good gourmand fragrance and this is perhaps my favorite find in a very long time. It’s sweet without being heady, warm without being too spicy or overpowering, it’s just so so gorgeous. I layer with their Fluer de Vanille spray.

Chanel No. 1 Foundation: I hate the feeling of foundation on my skin so I usually opt for a combination of bronzing drops and concealer but this week I purchased this Chanel foundation and I regret to inform you guys it’s perfect. It has the texture of a tinted moisturizer but delivers a really effective but natural coverage.

Carel Heeled Derbies: These are deceptively comfy and I can’t wait to wear them with jeans or trousers in the winter.

Gap Skirt: I have been looking everywhere for a 90’s esque stretchy skirt and this one is perfect; I wear it with a tee shirt and overshirt or with a blouse and it’s so cute and very Rachel from Friends-coded.

Dolce Vita Flip Flop: Speaking of 90’s I got these Dolce Vita flip flops a few weeks ago and I don’t think I’ve worn anything else out since; I dress them up with the Gap skirt for a nice summer dinner, or dress em down with a loose trouser.

Prequel Lip Visor SPF: I’ve been very serious about SPF for a while but this is my first year using an SPF for my lips; I love Prequel’s formula (and honestly, this is one of those brands that everything is so well formulated, not to mention affordable.)

LLBean Button down: As always I’m committed to bringing you guys the best button downs on the market and this one from LLBean has been my go to ever since I bought it. It is this lovely lightweight material that gives it a very feminine drape but it’s still nice and oversized.

Matouk Quilt: This summer I decided to swap my duvet cover for something lightweight and this Matouk quilt is absolutely gorgeous. It is so crisp to the touch and so well made.

Dieux Retinal: I turned 33 this month and I remain steadfast in my commitment to never doing injections which means I am VERY SERIOUS about my retinal. Dieux’s products are so effective and so gentle on the skin and I was lucky enough to try their retinal early and it absolutely lives up to the brand’s established reputation.

Avene Vitamin C Serum: I have some discoloration under my jawline and I have been truly blown away by how quick and effective this serum has been on evening it out. It also has a beautiful fragrance.

Regular MG readers will know that I am nothing if not a DIY-nail girlie and Lights Lacquer occupies more space than any brand in my polish drawer; I swear by their polishes–I always have a backstock of Soulmate, the most perfect sheer pink ever created–and no matter what I do on my nails, I almost always finish my at-home manicures with the Lights Lacquer Totally Gelly topcoat.

Recently the brand ventured into hand care with a gourmand-scented lotion and soon the brand will release its first body mist and founder Kathleen Fuentes also recently paired up with Kayali on a new fragrance line. I reached out to Fuentes, who you might recognize as Kathleen Lights, about the decision to branch out from nail polish, why fragrance and nail care are important self care rituals, and being a gourmand girl.

I’d love to hear a little bit about the early inspiration for the Amber Hour hand cream and mist.

Hand cream has always been something my audience has really loved from me. Back in the KL Polish days, we had scented hand creams, including a snickerdoodle one and an almond one, and people were always asking for us to bring that category back in some way.

With Lights Lacquer, we wanted to do it in a way that felt more elevated and more true to where the brand is now. The idea was to create a hand cream that felt beautiful, useful and a little luxurious, but still very wearable for every day. The scent was really important because I wanted something clean and universal — something a lot of people could love — but not too sweet, too fresh or too overpowering.

Amber Hour started as the hand cream scent, and once we finalized it, we all loved it so much that a few months later we started talking about turning it into a mist. Fragrance is such a big part of my life, so expanding that scent into a mist felt like such a natural next step.

How did you decide on the gourmand-forward fragrance? As a loyal gourmand wearer, I always love when new options come to market and I’m always curious what inspires featuring those scents!

I love gourmands, but I also know that not everyone wants to smell like a full cupcake or a dessert all day. So with Amber Hour, I wanted something that had that soft, sweet gourmand element, but still felt clean, fresh and wearable.

It’s not a super heavy gourmand. To me, it’s more of a subtle gourmand — fresh cedarwood, soft vanilla, a little amber, almost like a beautiful hotel lobby scent with some warmth to it. I wanted that little bit of sweetness because gourmand is one of my favorite fragrance categories, but I still wanted it to feel universal and easy to wear.

We went back and forth on the scent several times, especially when translating it from the hand cream into the mist. When you put a scent into a mist, it can change a little, so we did multiple variations to make sure it matched the hand cream as closely as possible. We also obsessed over the packaging details, like getting the butter yellow cap exactly right.

What’s your favorite way to incorporate the hand cream and mist into your daily routine?

I keep the hand cream in my purse and use it throughout the day. It’s one of those products I like having with me because it feels practical but also makes the moment feel a little more special.

I love using the hand cream first and then layering the mist on top or around me. It makes the scent feel more complete and helps it last longer. The hand cream gives you that soft, close-to-skin scent, and the mist adds a little extra layer. It’s an easy everyday routine that feels like self-care without being complicated.

You also just worked together with KAYALI on their new Eden campaign–tell me a little bit about your love of fragrance and how this collaboration came together. For me, fragrance and nail care are essential parts of my self-care routine—how do you see the relationship between them?

I’ve loved fragrance for such a long time. I’ve been talking about perfume on YouTube for years, and fragrance has always felt so connected to memory for me. It really is like a little time machine in a bottle. Growing up, my mom wore Calvin Klein Eternity as her signature scent for years, and I still connect that fragrance with her.

I discovered KAYALI back when they launched fragrances like Vanilla 28 and Musk 12, and I’ve been a fan of the brand for a long time. Working with them on the Eden campaign was honestly so much fun and a dream come true. I loved being in Dubai, I loved working with Mona and the team, and the fragrances are beautiful. From the new Eden fragrances, Eden Plush Pear is my personal favorite. It’s such a great spring and summer scent and one I’ve been wearing a lot.

To me, fragrance and nail care are both part of self-care because they’re those little things that can instantly make you feel good. Getting my nails done makes me feel put together and like myself, and fragrance does the same thing. It can change your mood, bring back a memory, or just make an ordinary day feel a little more special. They’re both beauty rituals, but they’re also emotional rituals in a way.

I have absolutely no clue how it’s already June but it is, somehow and for longtime MG readers you will know that I absolutely fucking hate this time of year. And with that loathing comes: coping the best way I know how–with beautiful things.

I have been on an exceptional run lately both of purchases and some very lovely gifted items and I am so excited to share them all with you.

Mulberry Bayswater: I want to start strong with this because using it has made me practically giddy; I have always wanted a mushy big girl bag–you probably know the type. It’s the bag you imagined very serious cool women carried when you were a little girl, something a little doctor’s bag style; big and only as structured as it needs to be. And wow does this baby hit the spot. It is so, so beautifully and thoughtfully made and I can absolutely see why it remains an icon.

Donni Linen Overshirt: This is (so so) unfortunately sold out but please allow it to take up space here if only to encourage you to invest in a few Donni pieces. Over the last few years, recovering from six million surgeries and trying to look somewhat human doing it, this brand has saved my ass. I wore this jacket to a recent work event and I felt elegant and comfortable for a number of hours on my feet.

Almina Cotton Sweater: I live in cotton knits on summer nights and this is the latest addition to my collection. It’s lightweight, high quality, and perfectly simple.

Frank & Eileen Sweater: Another piece I’ve had my eye on for many years, I finally got my hands on one of these much sought after knits. It is dense and heavy like a hug but the knit is still so soft to the touch. Well worth the investment.

Honeydew Like Nothing Underwear: I live for sheer, barely there underwear especially for spring and summer and these from Honeydew have so much stretch, come in the cutest colors, and are literally weightless. They also feel a lot sexier than your average seamless or laser cut thong.

Express Sweater Set: On the other end of the price spectrum, this sheer sweater set is sexy, and in my opinion looks a lot more expensive than it is.

Vacation Gelee Perfume: Ban de Soleil has been a summer staple in my house for as long as I can remember and I love that Vacation has taken the baton of this iconic scent and released it not only as a lotion but as a fragrance. I’m not doing much time in direct sunlight this summer so I’ve been wearing the fragrance and it gives me that perfect hit of summer serotonin.

Machete barrette: I am always collecting new hair accessories, and my recent additions from Machete have quickly become some of my most used. They are really elegant with just a touch of whimsy and they are so well made.

Vuori Activewear: I’m not a huge activewear person so when I do wear it, i want it to feel comfy and still look cute if I’m running errands etc. I love these crop flares from Vuori; they are nostalgic and wearable and they look great with this tank that has a built in (that actually fits my boobs.)

Anthropologie glasses: I looooove a cute little juice glass and I’ve been really enjoying my morning glass of unsweetened cranberry or ice coffee in these.

American Eagle Skirt: This skirt is perfect for summer – it reminds me so much of skirts that were on trend in the early aughts. Perfect with a little flat sandal and a simple tee.

Tod’s Sandals: Few things prove harder to find than comfortable summer shoes so SUE ME for recommending a pair this pricey. They require absolutely no break-in time and they’re light as a feather.

Gardenheir Shirt Dress: If you know me you know I live and die by these fucking Gardenheir shirts so when I saw them in a… dress? Maybe god is real? I bought one and I need six.

Rhode Plumper: I hate lip plumpers and I hate any lip gloss that isn’t vanilla scented but I actually look forward to putting this on my lips everyday. It smells so good and honestly you can barely feel the plumping agent.

Hanni Balm: This is genuinely one of the most moisturizing products I’ve ever used; my legs still feel soft the next morning and it doesn’t pill at all. The only thing I would caution is that I use it immediately AFTER I step out of the shower because I find using it in the shower can make my shower floor slippery.

DedCool Mochi Milk Room Spray: I’m really not a home fragrance person but this scent… I want every single room in my house to smell like this and also the whole neighborhood. It has this delectable marshmallow note that makes it so pleasant without feeling saccharine or heady at all.

So so thrilled to bring you guys a recent conversation I had with Rosie Wollacott, Head of Group Sustainability at Mulberry London. Longtime MG readers will know that I’m serious about my handbags; Mulberry’s bags hold such a special place in my handbag obsession as they were very much the it-girl bag when I was growing up.

They remain today, in my estimation, some of the most effortlessly chic bags you can get and I think it’s no coincidence that they’ve stood the test of time aesthetically and they’re committed to sustainable practices. I’m always chuffed (as the Brits would say) to know that a brand that makes beautiful things also cares deeply about the world we consume in, so I was thrilled to learn about the brand’s latest initiative–celebrating five years of their Made to Last commitment.

What can you tell me about the inspiration behind the Made to Last initiative? And what does it mean to be celebrating five years with it?

We published the Made to Last Manifesto in 2021 as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations. Before then, we only really spoke about sustainability when it was linked to a product launch, so this was the first time it had its own place as a strategy, combined with brand storytelling. 5 years down the line, it’s brilliant to see how much progress has been made; we’ve had our science-based targets validated, The Mulberry Exchange has turned over more than £1m/year, we’ve continued our commitment as a Living Wage employer and strengthened our supply chain and community relationships. But Made to Last is a perpetual work in progress, and there is still lots more to be done.

So much of how we consume is based around a rapid cycle; buy, use, and buy something new again. Why is it so important to have longevity built into the Mulberry ethos, especially in a time when fast fashion (and even fast high end fashion!) is so popular?

For us, longevity isn’t a response to fast fashion - longevity has always been central to Mulberry and our products. Our bags are designed to be loved for years, and our circular business model, The Mulberry Exchange, means that customers can trade-in their used bags if they are no longer using them and we will refurbish them ready to be loved by the next Mulberry customer. When products last, they reduce waste, honour the craftsmanship and materials behind them and encourage people to build a more meaningful relationship with what they own.

I’m sure you’ve seen TikToks where young women show off their well-loved Bayswaters; what is it like to watch younger generations, especially Gen-Z embrace a lived-in, ultra chic Mulberry bag? (As a 90’s baby, I fell in love with the bag on celebs in the early 00’s and it’s so fun to see younger girls using them!)

It’s genuinely brilliant to see, especially through platforms like TikTok. Watching Gen‑Z embrace a well loved Bayswater shows that there’s a real appetite for pieces with history and character, not just something brand new. We hear so many stories of mothers handing bags down to their daughters, so seeing that mindset scale up – even when it starts as a trend – feels incredibly positive. Whether or not they’re consciously thinking about circularity, they’re instinctively valuing longevity, and that’s exactly what Mulberry has always stood for.

Walk me through some of the most exciting and interesting details of the upcoming British Pasture Leather launch?

This launch is really special for us because it brings to life a commitment we made five years ago in our Made to Last Manifesto: to move towards a circular and regenerative business model. The collaboration with British Pasture Leather marks the first time we’re launching a fully British leather supply chain, from farm right through to finished bag.

It starts with Pasture for Life certified farms in the South West, where farmers are using regenerative principles to care for the land, soil and animals. British Pasture Leather then connects those hides to a traditional tannery in Bristol and specialist finishers in Northamptonshire, keeping generations of craftsmanship at the heart of the process.

The leather is finally transformed at The Rookery, our flagship Somerset factory, where Mulberry craftspeople have made each bag and pouch.

Thrilled today to bring you my conversation with Madison Snider Podpirka, founder of Fewer Finer. I started following the brand a few years back on Instagram when I saw a post with this scalloped tennis necklace. In my line of work I’m lucky enough to occasionally stumble into a bit of serendipity so when the Fewer Finer team reach out a few weeks ago to introduce themselves, I jumped at the opportunity to learn more about the brand.

If you’re a regular MG reader, you know that when it comes to jewelry I tend toward the traditional; I have a daily jewelry uniform that involves a pair of small gold hoops or diamond studs, or if I’m feeling fancy, some Paloma Picasso studs; I almost always wear a Tiffany & Co. diamond station necklace, and a ruby station bracelet with a Tiffany Hardware link, and my trusty two-tone Rolex. And so I’m always heartened to find new jewelry brands that are making pieces that are elegant without being boring and timeless without looking staid; Fewer Finer definitely fits that bill. I also am someone who really only ever splurges on jewelry to mark an event or occasion and so I’m particularly drawn to their commitment to personalization and hand engraving.

And so without further ado, here is my conversation with Madison!

What sets Fewer Finer apart from other luxury jewelry brands?

Fewer Finer was built on the idea that fine jewelry is best when it’s worn regularly and carries meaning. We make pieces that are beautiful and intentional. A lot of what we make is tied to something personal—an engagement, a memory, a person, a milestone. We are female founded, bootstrapped, and really live to make our clients feel welcomed, excited, and deeply happy. Our pieces are proudly made end-to-end in NYC’s Diamond District using time-honored methods to create high-quality jewelry you can wear everyday for years and generations to come.

What can you tell me about the customization process at Fewer Finer? Walk me through the client experience from beginning to end.

Customization is really the premise for everything we do, and we try to make the process feel as personal and collaborative as possible at every level. Even within our Signature Collection, there are opportunities to tailor pieces in ways that really matter to me, especially when it comes to fit. Fine Jewelry should feel like it was made for you. Our cuffs and bangles come in five measured sizes, our chain bracelets are offered in quarter-inch increments, and most of our necklaces are available in multiple lengths rather than relying on extenders. Our rings range from sizes 2–12, with all half sizes offered. Those details may seem small, but they make a significant difference in how a piece feels and lives with you.

From there, customization can take many forms. We consider hand engraving to be custom work because it’s such a collaborative process. We work closely with clients to translate something meaningful—often a memory, symbol, or idea—into imagery that can be engraved. That process includes creating and refining as many mockups as needed until it feels exactly right.

For bridal and redesign projects, most of our work is fully custom from beginning to end. It starts with a conversation. Sometimes a client comes in with a clear vision, and other times it’s more about what they don’t want, which can be just as helpful. From there, we guide them through stone selection, or work with a stone they already have.

We then 3D scan the stone(s) and create detailed digital renderings of the piece. We share these as a 360-degree view link so the client can really understand the design. We offer unlimited revisions at this stage. Once everything feels aligned, we produce a physical 3D-printed plastic model so the client can see and feel the piece before it’s made.

After final approval, the design goes into production with our jewelers here in New York. That part is incredibly important to us; a level of care and craftsmanship comes from working closely with the people actually making the pieces. Production typically takes about six weeks.

The end result is something that feels entirely specific to the person it was made for. It’s not just custom in a technical sense - both the process and the final piece are very personal.

I’d love to hear a little bit about Fewer Finer’s commitment to working with local bench jewelers and also staying away from mass production of their jewelry.

Since the business began, we have always worked directly with every single trade professional who touches our pieces and kept our production entirely local to New York. This not only allowed us to support a local industry that we are deeply passionate about and tradespeople who have honed their craft for generations, but it gave us the best quality control over the finished pieces. We cast, set, polish, and source entirely from New York City’s Diamond District. The decision to stay with this production and business model, despite the company’s growth, has been mostly about the end product. The quality is compromised when machines make things; the feeling and look of the pieces change too. When margins drive jewelry production, you see the compromises. We have never compromised on the final product, continuing to make each piece mostly to order, by hand, here in New York. We are proud to see that value reflected in the quality of our work.

We are living in an increasingly digital world. Have you noticed a shift in how clients interact with the brand as things become more automated and mass produced? Why is it important to uphold that tradition as a brand?

One area we’ve really specialized in—and built a large part of our collection around—is hand engraving. We often say we’re Masters in the Art of Hand Engraving, because it truly is an art form. We design many of our pieces—signet rings, charms, cuff bracelets—as a canvas for that work. What’s been especially meaningful to see is how much our clients have connected with it. Hand engraving has become one of the fastest-growing parts of our business, and we now engrave over half of the pieces we sell. I think people are drawn to it because they understand the skill level it requires: it’s entirely done by hand, with no digital involvement, and every mark is intentional.

Unfortunately, it’s also a dying art. Fewer and fewer people are learning the trade, as laser engraving becomes more common. That’s part of why we deliberately focus on it—there’s something incredibly special about preserving and celebrating that level of craftsmanship. At the same time, the fact that our pieces are handmade locally in New York adds another layer of connection. In such a digital-first world, I think people are increasingly drawn to knowing more about how their goods are made, especially their luxury ones. There’s an awareness that human hand work is a luxury.

I am so over the moon with the news I bring you today; longtime MG readers will know that I swear by Eileen West’s nightgowns. They have seen me through six surgeries and an even worse fate: being a hot sleeper. And they have never once let me down.

Today, the brand launched the loveliest collection of peasant dresses in what is sure to be my favorite launch of the Spring and summer. They are feminine and functional, just like the nightgowns, but you can wear them to dinner and to brunch and shopping and literally everywhere.

There truly is not a miss in the bunch; my personal favorite is the Marin and I also love the Elise but what I love about the collection is there’s really a silhouette for everyone and they’re a great price point as well. You can shop the whole collection here!

Happy happy Spring! With Mother’s Day on the horizon, I wanted to share some of my favorite little goodies that I’ve gifted over the years and that I plan to gift this year. And a friendly reminder that Moms come in all types, and women become moms in all sorts of ways; all of them deserve to be celebrated ❤️

Rifle Paper Co. Recipe Book: If your mom loves cooking, like mine does, I think this makes a really sweet gift. It has a great guide to measurements and cook temps in the front and has a fab organization system so it is as functional as it is cute.

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks: One of my most used products, I think the brand’s new Fizz shade is especially apropos for Mother’s Day because it’s vivid and playful, perfect for summer.

Papier Personalized Stationary: This is one of those things that instantly makes you feel chicer; I love Papier’s variety of designs as well, and their interface is easy to navigate and shipping quick.

Sophie Lou Jacobsen Coupes: I adore these delicate and whimsical coupes and I think they make for a very special (but useful!) gift.

Handblown Glass Necklace: I have been following Aglagla for a while now and their pieces are so unique and artsy but still really wearable; they have a ton of different styles but the Grape Tutti Fruiti is my fav.

Misette Tableware: A recently new find for me, this brand’s linens and glassware are whimsical but still really elegant (and machine washable!!)

Ted Meuhling Long Berries: I wear Ted Meuhling earrings almost everyday and I think one of the brand’s higher price pairs make for a lovely gift; their long berries come in a bunch of different stones so it’s easy to find one that will suit your mom’s aesthetic!

Personalized Mini Boat & Tote: This is a great standalone gift and it’s also great as a bag to put all her other gifts in, sort of like a very functional and chic gift bag.

Flowers!!: Longtime MG readers will know that I am so serious about my floral arrangements. If you can head out IRL, I’m partial to the Trader Joe’s selection and prices but you can also order a delivery if you live in a different area to your mom and for delivery I love Bouq’s. You can gift your mom a monthly subscription and they also have this very fun DIY kit option, so if your mom is anything like me and gets a hit of seratonin doing her own arrangements, I think this would be such a fun gift.

Beyond Yoga Loungewear: I’m a big believer that the best kinds of gifts are things someone might not treat themselves to, and I find really nice loungewear often fits into that category. I’m ride or die for the selection at Beyond Yoga, (and for Father’s Day they also have fab men’s options too.)

Josie Maran Mist: If your mom is like me, she can never have too many gourmand products; this one is trendy and smells gorg.

Aerie Beachwear: Beachwear falls loosely into the same category as loungewear in that I think it’s often something women aren’t inclined to treat themselves to. (As a life long “don’t get rid of that oversized shirt you can wear it to the beach” girl, I can attest.) I’m an Aerie devotee so I love this polo which can easily be worn with baggy jean shorts after a beach day as well; ditto this adorable and very on-trend Sardines Tee!

Special Edition Mother of Pearl Theraplush: Speaking of ride or die–I started using Theraplush over a year ago and it has not left my bedside since. Their new iridescent edition is so so cute and perfect as a gift.

Neapolitan Novels Box Set: I’m assuming that if you’re a regular MG reader, I probably don’t have to explain Ferrante for you but, this set is a beautiful gift for any mom who loves to read.

Not only are digital communities for book lovers ever expanding, there have never been more ways to read; whether you’re an avid audiobook lover, a committed Kindle fan, there is a method for you. For those of us who prefer our books made from paper and not screens, we’re not alone; between analog bags going viral on TikTok, Gen Z embracing analog books and music, and vinyl sales at a record high the verdict is clear: analog is in.

Three publishing houses–Summit Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing, and the independent publisher Zando–are embracing the analog and offering readers analog experiences from print publications to IRL meetups.

Summit Goes Analog

“More and more we are noticing that readers are actively seeking community around books,” Associate Director of Marketing, Anna Skrabacz tells me. “We started Summit Goes Analog to honor the original offline activity: reading!”

Through the Summit Goes Analog initiative, the publisher plans to host a series of in-person events where book lovers can get together and do tactile, analog activities like crafting, cooking, and of course readings. Their first event, a writing night with New York-based literary community Lit Club was a massive success; a sold out crowd undertook a series of writing exercises together and were introduced to one of the publisher’s most anticipated new titles, Almost Life by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.

The initiative is not only about engaging already avid readers, says Skrabacz, but about welcoming a new generation of readers. “What’s particularly exciting about this growing trend is its ability to reach younger, even not-avidly reading audiences, and inspire them to become lifelong readers,” she says. “Books naturally lend themselves to the unplugged movement, making the literary space an ideal foundation for these kinds of initiatives.”

Summit has a full roster of upcoming events; the next in person event will feature debut author Nelio Biedermann, who will celebrate his novel Lázár with Warby Parker and an on-theme Hungarian Recipe which will be available through Summit’s Substack. May brings another event to celebrate Almost Life – a letter writing get together with craft influencer Nnenna. “We’re also kicking around a possible murder mystery night with 15 Chapters Book Club to support our new cozy murder mystery novel The Kindness of Strangers,” she says. “For June, we'll plan something outdoors around buzzy Danish debut – and Summit’s first trade paperback original release – Waist Deep.”

The first event’s success is a promising start and Skrabacz is excited for what’s to come. “We think it speaks to an urgent desire for authentic, in-person connection in an increasingly digital world,” she says.

The Zando Residency at the Salmagundi Club

Zando is always looking to build community with their readers, says their Director of Publicity Sam Mitchell. The independent publisher has an exciting roster of new and recently released titles including Immersions by Kyle McCarthy, Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller, Black Bag by Luke Kennard, Lucky Girl by Allie Tagle-Dokus. They’ve built a strong online community from Substack to Discord, so “when the opportunity to create a physical home for our various reading communities presented itself, it felt like the natural next step for us as a brand,” he says.

And so the Zando Residency and New York’s historic Salmagundi Club was born. “Our CEO Molly Stern knew of the Salmagundi Club through a longtime friend and arranged a visit for our team,” he says. “What we found there was something rare: a living link between 19th century New York City art culture and the present day. Housed in a landmark 1853 brownstone on Fifth Avenue since 1917, the Club has long served as a home for artists, writers, and cultural exchange as part of its mission as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Over the years they’ve hosted monthly art exhibitions, painting demonstrations, lectures, concerts, workshops, and much more.”

Zando’s initiative pays homage to the Gilded Age tradition of salons; the publisher looked to a time when books were the center of social conversations, in the 18th and 19th centuries. “Those gatherings were intimate by design” says Mitchell. “Held in private homes or clubs, they brought together writers, artists, philosophers, and scientists to cross-pollinate ideas in ways that formal institutions couldn’t. We became absorbed with the question of what that could look like today, and that’s part of what drove our partnership with Salmagundi.”

Much like those early salons, Zando’s events celebrate the inherently radical act of reading. “Books are so powerful because they inherently require slowness and sustained attention,” he says. “These are qualities that seem downright countercultural now!”

Events in the immediate future will bring authors together with journalists, content creators, and imprint partners so they can mingle and discuss their work, though Zando has plans to expand the offerings to public events for every audience from romance readers to horror readers.

Riverhead’s The Eddy

For print media lovers, Riverhead has the analog initiative for you: a quarterly print newspaper crafted by the publisher’s design team that includes updates on their books, as well as behind the scenes looks at the publishing world, even an advice column from Riverhead editors. “The newsletter was inspired by our digital newsletter, The River-Herd, which we launched four years ago. We created it to bypass social media algorithms and deliver something distinctive directly to the inboxes of our most engaged readers,” says Riverhead’s Marketing Director Nora Alice Demick. “Since then, it has become a beloved part of our digital ecosystem—but in that same time, the online world has only grown more fractured, and many of our readers have become disillusioned with what they see on their screens.”

A pivot to print was the logical antidote to device fatigue. “I thought, what if we pushed the original goal for our newsletter to its most extreme point? Riverhead’s readers are deeply engaged—they annotate, they discuss, they show up to events,” she says. “Why not create something that invites that same intimacy and discovery beyond the screen?”

Meeting the demands of an increasingly analog starved world is a task the book world is uniquely poised to tackle, she says. Enter: The Eddy. The goal with the publication was simple–to attract new readers to the imprint, to appeal to analog-inclined readers, and to provide readers with a tangible keepsake from one of their favorite imprints.

“I was blown away by the response to our launch,” she says, noting that while they had planned a months long campaign to build excitement, subscribers tipped the 2,000 mark after just a few Instagram posts. By the end of 2025, there were more than 10,000 copies in circulation nationwide.

In our conversation Demick shares for the first time that readers of The Eddy can look forward to a robust Spring issue which will feature a cover story from revered book critic, Ron Charles. “We’re also interested in how we can create consistent, high-visibility destinations for The Eddy in physical spaces like bookstores, events, festivals, and establish it as part of a larger ecosystem of in-person connection. There’s potential for brand partnerships, for city-specific pop-ups and for more moments that bridge print and live experience.”

It’s not just the tactile satisfaction of a piece of print media, says Demick–it provides a permanence that is rarefied in a digital world. “Digital content is endless and easily replaced,” she says. “A printed, thoughtfully curated newspaper feels more lasting. Its value comes from how it was crafted, how you can hold it in your hands, appreciate it, and return to it unchanged.”

It’s been a minute since we did a smorgasbord issue of Material Girl–that is one with no real theme other than “shiny new things I’ve been using that I love.” Most of these are things I’ve purchased and some are things I’ve been gifted but as always, I’ll disclose that no matter what (and just like always, nothing is an ad, ever 😇)

Westman Atelier Hydro Balm: If Gucci Westman builds it, I will come and these new sheer balms are no exception. I treated myself to the Nectar shade and it’s subtle and comfortable and as promised, allows for mirror-free application. The packaging is beautiful and luxurious and there’s no noticeable smell which I’m always partial to.

Lisa Eldridge Beauty: My sister is an LE devotee so I reached out to the brand to sample some products; they sent along an eye liner, mascara, and lip products and all I can say is after using each for a few days I immediately went to the website and bought more. The eyeliner is, without exception, the best eyeliner I’ve ever used. It’s creamy and glides on easily, it also is easy to blend or blur out–but it has the lasting power of a much drier product. I don’t know how she does it but it’s an instant holy grail for me. Her eye shadows and mascara are every bit as lovely and they come in the most beautiful colors. And I’m wearing the lip liner and lipstick as we speak! Perfection, no notes.

Rifle Paper Co. Sheets: I’m a very picky sleeper so I don’t buy sheets often but I wanted some new sheets for Spring and tried these from Rifle Paper Co. in collaboration with The Company Store. They are so, so crisp and the fitted sheet has a deep pocket which is a dream as my mattress is huge.

Summer Fridays Sunlit Vanilla: This is a product I was sent – about a month before it launched I was able to test it while it was still under embargo and similarly, as soon as it was launched I stocked up on a second bottle. I’m a very loyal gourmand girl and in my opinion this smells like a much, much more expensive perfume. It also lasts on the skin! I’ve already gotten lots of compliments.

New Hair Clips: A few weeks ago I did a major clean out of my hair accessories and invested in some new claw clips, pins, and barrettes. For my everyday use, I have become a loyal Chunks customer. Their clips are made from this very durable acetate that also makes them really comfortable against my skin. I have a lot of very fine hair and I especially love their Small Jojo Claw and the Small Octopus Claw. I also treated myself to a small claw clip from Machete which is really elegant and sturdy – as well as a small (ok not so small haul) from France Luxe where I buy my chignon pins and my barrettes.

Mane Hair Mask & Thermal Brush: I purchased a Mane Thermal brush for myself before my most recent surgery because I wanted a tool that was lightweight to use while my upper body was still recovering–it’s a super easy tool to use and for my fine hair that doesn’t typically hold a curl, I get really beautiful delicate waves when I use it. Also it’s a lifesaver on my bangs. I also was sent the brand’s new hair mask and can I just say… this stuf smells delicious. If you’re a fan of Strawberry Letter from Phlur, I highly recommend it. I’ve noticed that my hair is much less frizzy since using it which is really saying something since I use heat everyday!

Gap Loungewear: I live for a good loungewear set and this one from Gap is super lightweight but not flimsy; I think the top could even be worn out and about!

Gap Oversized Shirt: Speaking of Gap–longtime Material Girl readers know I do not mess around when it comes to my button downs and this one from Gap is perfect.

Makeup Forever Lip Liner: I have used Wherever Walnut in this formula for ever but as a pale cool toned girl, I was so excited to try the new Wherever Walnut Light and it did not disappoint. If you like Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk Fair you’ll love this.

Avene Cicalfate Serum: Not necessarily a new purchase as I’m never without a bottle of this in my medicine cabinet but I recently started adding it to my morning skincare routine to provide a little extra moisture before makeup and it’s been a great reminder of what a perfect product this is: I use it really anywhere on my body that I have irritation or damage and I see improvement in just a few days.

I wanted to drop a very quick note because the last few weeks I’ve been wearing and testing a very fun new fragrance – Sunlit Vanilla from Summer Fridays which launches later this month.

Earlier this month I shared my favorite scents and honestly, this shoots up to the top of the list. If you’re a lifelong gourmand-lover like me, I cannot recommend it enough. I grew up on a steady diet of Warm Vanilla Sugar so I like my gourmands sweet, feminine, and cozy; too often I find that vanilla forward fragrances overcorrect with herbal or green notes rendering the gourmand effect completely moot!

This fragrance absolutely does not suffer that fate. It is very clearly a vanilla fragrance with a warm and slightly spicy layer that makes it feel more elegant than your typical vanilla body spray. And this isn’t really a surprise – Summer Fridays does great vanilla-forward scents in their Lip Butter Balms, so if you’re a fan of those, you’ll like this.

I also should flag that I am someone who gets very easily nauseated or headache-y from perfumes and this one is perfectly comfortable to wear. Oh and it LASTS. As I write this, I’m sitting in my kitchen having applied it to my clothes this morning, and I can still smell it. If I spray it on a scarf or coat, I can usually smell it even days later. Also the bottle is so chic and very much reminds me of Annik Goutal!

Anywho, the fragrance is available on the Summer Fridays website and Sephora in a few weeks and now that the embargo is up I can finally share my approval with my lovely material girlies.

Today’s issue is another installment of one of my favorite things to do here on Substack which is to highlight authors and books I love. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Holden about her new book, How To Be A Rich Old Lady for Forbes. (You can read that full piece here.) What I loooove about this book is it is the perfect antidote to the insidious creep of tradwife values on social media, in our politics, in our bedrooms etc. etc.

Seriously, if I see another Instagram reel captioned #stayathomegirlfriend I’m going to scream.

Amanda’s book does a phenomenal job offering practical and accessible financial insight all contextualized by the way gender inequity shapes how women interact with money – and critically, all without shame or derision. I’m including my full interview with Amanda, unedited below. You can purchase her book here — trust me, it’s a great investment. ;)

In your book, you talk about the systemic ways in which wealth is harder to accumulate for women; can you talk a little bit about how this pertains specifically to relationship dynamics?

Sure! Let’s take divorce as an example. First, let’s start with the persistent, aggravating myth, which is that women get rich from divorce. We all know the exhausting trope: A gold digger conspiring to take a man for all he’s worth. But no, women post-divorce are not jetting off to their Italian villas to be with the pool boy (although I wouldn’t be mad about it). Actually, women tend to be left worse off. A lot worse off. In fact, divorce often financially ruins women.

Married people, research shows, have a higher median net worth and are more likely to be homeowners. This makes sense: They can split costs, pool assets, and get certain tax breaks. After a divorce, both parties experience a drop in household income and assets. But what we see is that women’s assets drop by twice as much as men’s.

In a painfully ironic twist, one of the reasons why this happens is because many women sacrifice their own earning power so that their husbands can climb the income ladder. This gap gets wider when kids are in the mix: Census data shows that 80% of single custodial parents are women, and often, spousal support payments only last for a few years. (If you’re on the fence about getting a prenup, do it. We often think of prenups as just about splitting assets, but they also play a crucial role in securing income post-divorce, especially if you step out of the workforce to have children.)

This gap gets even wider the older a woman is when she gets divorced, leaving her less time to catch up financially. According to a 2021 study in the Journals of Gerontology, women who divorce at age 50 or older experience a 45% decline in their standard of living, while men’s standard of living dropped by just 21%. I experience this firsthand in my investing courses: I frequently have women in their 50s and 60s who were just hit by a surprise divorce and have never been involved in their money at all. These are my hardest cases.

We are seeing a massive trend toward more traditional domestic gender roles; the prominence of influencers like Nara Smith and Ballerina farm, the praising of a “soft” lifestyle, viral TikToks by “stay at home girlfriends.” Can you talk a little about the parallels between these trends and the system oppression that has made it harder for women to gain financial autonomy historically?

In the introduction to my book, I walk through how recently women were formally locked out of financial autonomy. From the book:

As recently as the late 1980s, women were denied access to business loans and credit without a male signature. In the decades before that, women were frequently refused property ownership, work in certain professions, credit cards, and banking privileges. Some states even had “head and master” laws, which gave husbands total control over the finances. (So, yeah, next time someone waxes a tad too nostalgic about “the good ol’ days” or about how marriages “used to last,” feel free to remind them that Grandma didn’t have a bank account.)

When people get nostalgic about traditional gender roles, it’s worth remembering that those roles were enforced through economic dependence. Women were constrained from building independent financial power; it was not a choice.

What we’re seeing now looks different on the surface because it’s framed as a choice. Like you said, influencers talk about softness, rest, and opting out! These all sound pretty good to me! And yes, I suppose you could argue that modern women are “choosing” this, but I tend to believe that the underlying mechanism is similar to systems of economic dependence of the past. In a system that consistently underpays women, penalizes motherhood, offloads unpaid caregiving onto them, and offers little structural support, aligning yourself with male breadwinning can feel like the most rational path to security. Then, the next step in stabilizing that arrangement, both to one’s own self and publicly, is often alignment with the hierarchies that sustain it, including male supremacy and white supremacy.

(Or, you are raised on these fundamentalist ideas; the male/white supremacy come first, and the daily decisionmaking follows.)

The economics major in me doesn’t blame individual women for responding to incentives, even if it’s not what I would choose. Because here’s what a lot of the analysis refuses to admit out loud: Capitalism is an exploitative economic system, and already-vulnerable people (like women) are always the easiest to exploit. I think it is normal to not want to feel exploited by a job or economic system. When women are overworked, underpaid, time-poor, and structurally unsupported, handing off any responsibility can feel like a small mercy—even if it is a crucial one! Again, to me, it makes sense why someone might choose this as a short-term strategy, even if it is dangerous and incoherent as a long-term strategy (and for the greater good).

Historically, women have always had to adapt and improvise within hostile structures. Ideally, this adaptation looks like resistance; fighting for collective solutions for all women, all people! But I admit that’s an exhausting long game, and women need relief (or the perception of relief) now. I am concerned when individual women make these choices, and I urge them not to, because I have seen how dangerous the other side can be: after divorce, when the children are had, when what sets in is a suffocating loss of autonomy. But what is more upsetting is the women themselves pushing the cultural narrative that romanticizes (and thereby normalizes) dependence, often to young girls, without reckoning with the power dynamics of dependence. (Of course, for many of these tradwife influencers, these are power dynamics they will never face, because they are insulated by the very wealth that they claim not to be working toward.)

Our grandmothers are rolling in their graves! For a reality check, I encourage my students to talk to literally any older woman about what it was like to be forced to hitch herself to some butthead because she was completely locked out of economic opportunity. Look for any stories about women fleeing fundamentalist religions and their cultures of financial abuse. And now, in a moment when everything is already so economically precarious, we are also watching our bodily autonomy and economic protections be stripped away, all while the culture tries to convince women to give up what little economic power they have. As material conditions get worse (which is also by design), right-wing and nostalgia politics weaponize our discontent to sell a “solution,” and that solution is for women to submit to men. How convenient, because what men want, and what this entire system is built to secure, is domination over women. But we cannot take for granted the advances that allow women to operate as autonomous beings, owned by no one, especially as the world gets harder!

Knowing this, I do not think that the solution is to yell at these women. (Well, maybe a little at Ballerina Farm.) If we don’t want women to have to rely on men or partners for money, we need to get serious about creating genuine systems of support in this country, through both legislation and, I would argue, a reimagining of the economic system, one where care work is appropriately valued. Currently, there is no political party truly working toward these fixes. (Caroline as a side note have you ever read Doppelganger by Naomi Klein? I think this idea is quite compelling; by having such an ineffective opposition party in the Dems, and an increasingly cruel economic system, it has created a vacuum for right-wing and even conspiratorial thinking. People are going to search for answers in all the wrong places. Great read that I think is tangentially relevant to the tradwife convo.)

What about the connection between an increasingly volatile state of reproductive rights in the US and the glorification of financial dependence? Why are these two trends related – and so dangerous?

You’re right that the attacks on reproductive rights and the growing glorification of women’s financial dependence are not separate trends!

If you read Project 2025 and its expansion in Project 2026, the throughline is undeniable. These documents outline a Christian nationalist vision of governance that is explicitly invested in restoring traditional gender roles as a political and economic strategy. People do not like to hear this, but it is a reality of the country we live in: There are many men who want to dominate women; who want women out of the paid workforce; who believe that women should act as glorified servants or, at the very least, subsidize the ambitions of men. And reproductive coercion is a lever of that domination and control. (As described in the previous answer!)

In 2026, we can expect more attacks on abortion and birth control, attempts to establish fetal personhood across federal agencies as a means to criminalize abortion, and the dismantling of reproductive healthcare. Forced pregnancy, limited access to contraception, and medical risk all reduce women’s ability to plan their lives and their careers. The effect is, of course, uneven. Women with resources will pay for travel and out-of-pocket care. Women without resources are locked into outcomes that permanently alter their economic futures. Again, this is by design.

We are already seeing this play out. In states like Texas, where abortion access has been severely restricted, maternal mortality has risen dramatically. Women are being told, in practice, that their lives are expendable. This has economic consequences as well as moral and spiritual ones.

The architects of the anti-choice movement are not subtle about this! The Heritage Foundation and its allies envision a return to traditional gender roles in which women continue to work, as they always have, but that work is unpaid. Not to mention unprotected and totally invisible. Control over reproduction and finances works in tandem to make that arrangement enforceable.

I also think a lot about the common phrasing of “I’m just a girl” etc., and how that creates a culture of reliance. Your book seems to take direct aim at this idea that we don’t need to or can’t think critically, with SO much applicable insight to often insular seeming topics like investing, banking etc. You’re not talking down to us, because you know we’re smart enough to handle this stuff. Talk a little bit about why having this information is so critical for women of all ages, but especially young women to assert their autonomy in life.

Although I am always advocating for claiming whatever agency is within reach, women (and people, I think) are feeling totally overwhelmed by a broken economic and political system. There is a reason that financial nihilism is growing among young people! We haven’t given them much to hope for. So like, I suppose I would argue that lack of real support systems or fairness —> culture of reliance and feelings of hopelessness. So, I always try to dig this weed up from the roots, and if I want something to change, it requires addressing why we are here. (Sorry, this is why I do so much explaining behind what got us here—I think it’s the most effective place to begin, as it is a way to honor the very real struggles women face.)

If you are completely overburdened by student loans (a decision you were allowed to make at age 18 with no financial education or guidance), or buying a house feels like it will never be in reach (while billionaires buy our political system), or you believe that there is no future to save for, or you see all of your tax dollars being used in the most violent, anti-social ways imaginable, yeah, it’s hard to remain convinced you need to learn the rules of game that absolutely is rigged, and not in your favor. Growing up in poverty can permanently alter your brain; financial trauma can produce lots of outcomes, including a deep fear of financial systems and dissociation.

And for many people, it is no longer clear what we are even working toward! I actually think most people want to work and be productive, but people don’t want to be exploited by a ruling class that’s destroying the planet and shredding democracy for the benefit of shareholders. Like, no one wants to die mining a billionaire’s moon base, you know? Therefore, it is easier (and maybe even soothing) to make light of the fact that you cannot make the emotional space for it.

(And this is a bit out of my wheelhouse, but I think this is also just trends being trends, which are then amplified by the algorithm. I don’t say that because it is harmless, but I think it is also true that people will say what they think others can relate to or is of a moment.)

I really see myself as a teacher for these women! I am someone who ended up working in finance after college, but who quickly radicalized as I learned more about who the system is designed to benefit. I believe my superpower is meeting women where they are and not shaming their decisions, especially when those decisions are adaptive to an otherwise hostile system. Still, I will remind them that there are very real forces that will pounce on any of the power they are willing to forgo. I then reframe this work as about safety, security, options, and, maybe just maybe, using money as a tool to build their best possible life. Contrary to whatever the algorithm shows us, I believe most women want and are willing to work toward these objectives.

Here is a passage from my book, which walks through this train of thinking:

A few years into my work at the firm, I had a hunch it wasn’t a big ol’ coinkydink that all my rich clients were men, save the occasional widow. But now I know: Money is harder for women to accumulate, and this fact is the deliberate outcome of centuries of economic design.

As recently as the late 1980s, women were denied access to business loans and credit without a male signature. In the decades before that, women were frequently refused property ownership, work in certain professions, credit cards, and banking privileges. Some states even had “head and master” laws, which gave husbands total control over the finances. (So, yeah, next time someone waxes a tad too nostalgic about “the good ol’ days” or about how marriages “used to last,” feel free to remind them that Grandma didn’t have a bank account.)

My own Grandma Betty, a sparkly, hardworking woman carrying the entire domestic load, ironed the shirts of men in jobs she could’ve done with her eyes closed, if she’d had the chance. My mom, brilliantly creative but shy, was told by a high school guidance counselor to “just be a secretary.” I don’t know if the counselor’s suggestion reflected an inability to see my mom’s talents or a world where those talents had a place. Probably both. And while both jobs represent dignified forms of labor, notably both exist in support of professional men—and come with low,

built-in ceilings on income, mobility, and fulfillment. It’s dizzying to think about how recently women were forced to structure their entire lives around the ambitions of men—and how many women still are.

To this day, men’s careers are subsidized by women doing unpaid work at home—the cooking, cleaning, and caregiving—often while maintaining their own careers. Even when women are the primary breadwinners, they still do the majority of the household labor, for their own families and for their aging parents. A savagely titled study from the American Sociological Association, “Daughters Provide as Much Elderly Parent Care as They Can, Sons Do as Little as Possible,” found that daughters take on far more caregiving than sons, with deeply uneven emotional, physical, and financial costs. Another study showed that women over fifty who are forced out of work to care for aging relatives lose an estimated $324,000 in wages and retirement savings.

If we know that the cost of caregiving can sink women, then motherhood is financial quicksand. Women lose half a million dollars in lifetime earnings, on average, just by becoming mothers. Because it’s not only the hours they miss but the opportunity to compound raises and keep skills sharp and connections warm. It’s accumulation, in reverse. But when a man shows up with khakis and a kid? He gets a salary bump and the benefit of the doubt. The exact same event that marks women as a professional liability is seen in men as a sign of reliability. Yes, the gender wage gap is real, and it’s driven by the motherhood and caregiving penalties, workplace discrimination, and the systemic devaluation of anything considered “women’s work.”

Although I’m primarily using a gendered framework to look at structural economic inequities, it’s not the only one, or even the most important. People born into wealth have astoundingly better outcomes than those born into poverty, no matter their gender. Wage gaps are far worse for Black, Latina, Native, trans, and disabled women. And these wage gaps transmute into gnarly wealth gaps. For every dollar a white man owns, women overall own just thirty-two cents. Black and Latina women own less than one penny.

Our big economy-wide problems—like wage stagnation, the cost of living crisis, and women making up the majority of the low-wage workforce—are best understood as the outcome of unchecked capitalism. In this politico-economic system, workers produce excess value, which is siphoned off to company owners and shareholders, rather than, say, being distributed to the workers themselves. Because the objective is corporate profit, not fairness or worker dignity, labor is seen as a cost to be minimized. And while all workers are vulnerable to exploitation by extraordinarily powerful corporations, the easiest people to exploit are the ones who are already vulnerable.

I, for one, think we should consider a different system entirely; one where the economic markets exist to serve workers, not one where workers exist to serve the economic markets. But until then, we need a few bare-minimum fixes: actual limits on corporate power, a revitalized labor movement, and a real social safety net—one that includes paid parental leave and subsidized childcare. Because right now, women are barked at to have children, then disproportionately left to drown in the financial consequences. Sociologist Jessica Calarco, author of Holding It Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net, argues that this reliance on women to fill systemic gaps comes at an enormous cost to their well-being, and yes, that includes their financial well-being. Instead of a functioning social safety net, the US has women.

It is downright diabolical, then, that the economic oppression of women is used as evidence that women are “bad at money.” You’ve probably heard it before: the sexist personal finance propaganda that “women just don’t invest!” because our tiny girl brains are filled with glitter or whatever. But even this assertion falls apart when we consider that investment risk-taking is largely a function of income, not gender. Said another way, women don’t invest as much because women don’t have as much money to invest. We know who gets to take the big dick swings in this world, and it’s not a single mom of three kids working two jobs to scrape by.

But here’s what they won’t tell you: That when women do invest, the data shows they are better at it than men. Not because they take bigger risks, but because they don’t take as many stupid ones. Even something as seemingly simple as women’s daily spending habits are scrutinized in ways that men’s just aren’t.

Every woman I know has had what I call a “Brad Experience,” wherein a walking, talking pair of boat shoes condescends to her about her spending. It’s the guy with a sloppy DraftKings habit who thinks his wife spends too much when she’s buying for the entire family. It’s an entire aisle at the bookstore dedicated to the irresponsibility of her lattes but that makes no mention of his nine-dollar craft beer that tastes like a two-by-four. Apparently, as long as your choice of overpriced beverage could double as wood stain, it’s an acceptable financial decision. Even though men splurge more, spend more, and have more credit card debt than women, despite earning more, the “women be shoppin’” narrative persists.

The story that women are compulsive spenders who can’t be trusted with money serves a function: It keeps men in charge. Not just in politics or on payrolls, but at the kitchen table. We’re taught to see this as normal, maybe even responsible. And while it’s generally chalked up as a harmless hangover from a less enlightened time, this story has plenty of cosponsors. It is crafted and circulated by those who benefit from keeping women in their place. And right now, it’s working. In just two and a half years—between May 2022 and November 2024—public opinion on traditional gender roles underwent a historic shift. The share of Republican men who said women should return to the home jumped from 28% to 48%. Among Republican women, it rose from 23% to 37%.

Even before the recent backslide, a 2021 survey revealed that in 69% of millennial heterosexual marriages, men report doing the long-term financial planning. Among the women who relinquish the duty, 82% say it’s because they lack the same knowledge as their male partner. Seventy-eight percent are already overburdened by other responsibilities, like household chores and childcare. And I get it! Our refusal to build real support systems for women has left them improvising and adapting from within a hostile structure. When the opportunity to hand off a responsibility comes along, even a crucial one, it can feel like a small mercy.

And though I’d classify this as a failure of neoliberalism, not individual women, this dynamic has real-life consequences. Women are disconnected from critical financial decisions, leaving them even less informed and with even less power, further entrenching financial inequality. At the very least, women are left out of the decisions that will make or break their lives. Among men who handle the family finances, 68% say they do it so they’ll have control in the event of a divorce. Don’t believe me? Boogie on over to Reddit, where men are openly coaching each other on how to hide assets in crypto—so their ex-wives and children get less than they’re legally owed.

If you feel unsure or underqualified when it comes to money, well, shit, of course you do! That feeling didn’t come out of nowhere! It was grafted onto you, over and over, until it felt like your own skin. While this can seem grim, there is reason to be hopeful. Just because you’re here today, doesn’t mean you have to be in the same place tomorrow. I’m the first to admit that there are real limitations to personal finance advice; you can’t compound returns you were never allowed to earn in the first place. But a lack of knowledge represents a problem we can solve together, and solve quickly.

Education becomes a survival tool in a capitalist economy that much prefers an overworked, under-informed populace and where entire monopolized industries operate like shakedown scams for consumers to navigate. This is especially true of consumer finance, an industry

that preys on our lack of education. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Wall Street dines out—steak, wine, and dessert—on the fees it quietly leeches from the retirement accounts of schoolteachers in the poorest school districts in America. And trust me: They want nothing more than for you to blame yourself for not understanding what was purposefully designed to confuse you.

I hope that, as you learn about how the system works, you will find ways to reclaim personal power from it. Or, as my friend Paco de Leon, author of Finance for the People, writes, this practice is about “finding your agency at any moment, despite existing within an unequal system.” I have seen how quickly financial education can change the lives of the women who choose to engage with it. My investing students routinely tell me that it has allowed them to feel a confidence they never before thought possible. And I have found that oftentimes, you just need the right teacher. Someone who will honor your struggles and your intelligence.

I hope to be that teacher for you.

On that note – I’m a lawyer by education and I still think constantly about the lecture our property law professor gave the women in our first year class: never get married without a prenup, and don’t ever forego a private bank account of your own. She really drove home for us how intrinsically tied financial independence was to safety, even in a happy relationship. But often people push back saying a prenup feels antagonistic or a separate bank account feels like an affront to the trust in a marriage. Why is financial autonomy, even in a happy marriage, so critical – especially in these political times? And how do we combat this idea that financial autonomy is somehow discordant with a trusting relationship?

I think we have to understand that we still live under a patriarchy, a system that completely normalizes the domination of women. Financial autonomy is still, to this day, framed as antagonistic because, historically, women asserting financial equality disrupts this existing hierarchy. The idea that a prenup or a separate bank account signals distrust is a holdover from a period when women were legally treated as property and asking for financial independence was understood as a challenge to male control rather than a basic condition of safety.

Women experience worse financial outcomes across the board, not because of individual choices, but because of how the system is designed. Caregiving penalties, motherhood penalties, discrimination, and interrupted careers all compound over time. When women step out of the workforce to support a family, we understand that they are sacrificing income in the present. But they are also sacrificing raises, retirement contributions, connections and networks, and the ability to earn in the future. A prenup and independent financial access are ways of acknowledging that reality. (Especially right now, in the current political moment, as women’s and reproductive rights are under attack and social safety nets are being eroded!)

As far as combating the idea that financial autonomy is somehow discordant with a trusting relationship, I’d begin with this question: By not having these conversations, whose comfort is being prioritized? If a man is unable or unwilling to acknowledge the economic reality women face, including the devaluation of care work and the long-term costs of stepping out of paid employment, I’m sorry to say it, but that is a huge red flag. I know this is harsh, but I would hold off on marrying any man who does not see this and see it clearly. In the most significant of ways, it’s not even really about the pre-nup or the bank account, and you could be in for a world of hurt.

I view this as more of a “Men’s Problem” than a “Women’s Problem,” as women are clearly in a position of lesser relative power. I understand that it is often up to a woman to initiate these conversations and take on the burden of education. But I hold firm that women deserve a partner who understands that financial autonomy increases safety, stability, and trust, rather than threatening it.

Is there a particular celebrity or public figure who you wish would read your book? Perhaps even a tradwife influencer...

Lol!! I think if I could have one tradwife-related wish, it would be for every very successful online tradwife to admit that she works, is earning her own money, and is relentlessly ambitious. I want tradwives to stop lying about the nature of their relationship to money and power. Because they are asking of us something that they do not do themselves, which is to financially submit to men.

Just dropping by with a mini newsletter, courtesy of a new fragrance delivery: Phlur’s Vanilla Blackberry.

I’ll be completely honest – while I have a phenomenal collection of sophisticated scents, I’ve finally come to admit within myself that my olfactory tastes are probably more at home in a Victoria’s Secret. I’ve always loved anything vanilla scented, sugary, or fruity; Bath & Body Works’ Warm Vanilla Sugar has been, in some form or another, in my routine for most of my life, so has Clinique Happy.

It’s a preference that doesn’t fit exclusively in any one scent family – though its most often a gourmand, or fruity — but I do think I’ve finally landed on what I’m always trying to achieve. If you spent any time as a child in ballet classes, chances are your teacher had a helper and few women are as glamorous to a young girl than the ultra cool, ultra glam helper. They were like lifesize Barbies; when I was growing up they had sparkly lip gloss and wore Victoria’s Secret PINK everything and they smelled like Jolly Ranchers, glitter and whipped cream. (To be honest, some of them probably were wearing VS PINK body spray – RIP.) The grown up version would be the woman who works at the cosmetic counter with impeccable nails who smells better than anything you’ve ever smelled in your life. Unapologetically feminine, sweet, and bright.

That’s what we’re going for here.

So I figured in the spirit of sharing – here are some recent scents in my rotation.

Phlur Vanilla Blackberry: For years I’ve been trying to find a scent that compares to an old Bath & Body Works scent, Black Raspberry Vanilla and this absolutely hits the spot. It’s sweet but the vanilla in it keeps it from being saccharine.

Miss Dior Essence: This gorgeous twist on the traditional Miss Dior is so deliciously sweet without being heady. This is the grown up version of the perfume you dream of wearing as a little girl.

Phlur Heavy Cream: Similarly, this ultra lactonic fragrance balances what could be an overpowering vanilla-frosting scent with a bright lemon note and I love it. I wear it as my base everyday.

Chanel Paris-Venise: This is the ultimate luxury vanilla body lotion in my opinion. Chanel makes some of the most gorgeous fragrances and this is such a delicate and fresh take on vanilla.

Summer Fridays Sunlit Vanilla: I had the very good luck of trying this scent before it launched and it has quickly become my go to perfume. It has just the right amount of sweetness and still won’t be too heavy or heady for summer.

Bulgari Au The Vert: I found this scent because one of the hotels we stay at stocks it in all their bathrooms; technically a citrus forward scent, I really smell the cardamom note in this. It’s warm and cozy but still very elegant.

Maison Louis Marie Fleur de Vanille: This is such a unique little scent; to me it doesn’t really pull gourmand but it is; it smells more like a vanilla perfume than a vanilla body spray and it’s great layered or on its own.

Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar: A classic for a reason. Perfect for layering, and honestly a really great moisturizing lotion especially for the price.

Phlur Strawberry Letter: I saw a TikTok about this perfume that was probably an ad but it worked on me: a girl getting ready says that whenever she wears this perfume, she gets a compliment and she then proceeds to wear it into the elevator where of course, a girl compliments it. And you know what? Damn right. It smells like the most delicious fruit candy.

Clinique Happy: The ultimate pretty girl perfume in my opinion, nothing smells cleaner or brighter than Clinique Happy.

Olay Lotion: I bought this on a whim recently and I literally crave it. It’s sexy and it feels like the way your skin smells on vacation.

Brunel: Speaking of – I was able to try two products recently from the Brunel line and they are perfect for layering with gourmand scents. They’re so creamy and delicate on the skin too which I always seek out in body care especially as it gets warmer.

Other sweet smelling products: In addition to perfume, I typically opt for any scented product I buy to be in the vanilla family. Summer Fridays make a few lip balms that are always in my rotation: their classic Vanilla, their Birthday Cake, and their Pink Sugar. Ditto Rhode — the Vanilla and the Salted Caramel are delicious. Naturium lip balms have a very subtle vanilla scent if you’re someone who likes something with an almost imperceptible scent. Finally the Westman Atelier lipstick isn’t a vanilla scent per se but it has a sort of desert-y cocoa scent that I love.

Finally if you’re interested in the perfectly curated scents in my collection that aren’t on this list, not because they’re not gorgeous but just because they don’t necessarily work thematically, you can find them here!

How I’ve missed you. As most of you probably know, at the end of last year I took a medical leave to have (yet! another!) surgery for my endometriosis. I resolved to be kinder to myself about time off so I am slowly easing back into things – but I could not pass up the opportunity to celebrate my favorite holiday with an issue of Material Girl.

Keeping it short and sweet – let’s get into some of my favorite things to give and receive for Valentine’s Day!

Nail Polish: It’s no secret that I’m a DIY nail girlie and I think a set of base coat, polish, and top coat make such a lovely little gift. If you really want to splurge, Hermes nail polish is both a really high quality product and a very luxurious experience to receive; they even come in their signature orange boxes! I also swear by all things Lights Lacquer and they have a phenomenal shade range for a great price.

Unique Stuffed Animals: I am NOT above a cute Jellycat and I think indulging your inner child, or adding a touch of whimsy to your bedroom is never a bad idea. If you’re partial to something a little more traditional, Bunnies by the Bay make the sweetest bunnies, bears, and lambs. But if you’re looking for something a little different – I absolutely adore the Alpaca fur Bunny and Llama from Overland. They are… dare I say, chic!

Calico Critters: Speaking of your inner child, go out and buy yourself a Calico Critter. By one for your best friend, buy one for your mom, buy one for your sister, buy one for every girl on your list.

Books about love: But maybe not love stories? If you know what I mean. I love novels that are about the messy and sad and confronting parts of love and relationships and this is the perfect time of year to indulge. My all time favorites include: Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan, My Husband by Maud Ventura, Creep by Emma van Straaten, I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue, Intimacies by Katie Kitamura, The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden, Thirst For Salt by Madeline Lucas, The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante, Willful Disregard by Lena Andersson.

Luxury Bookmark: For the reader in your life, you’d be hardpressed to find a more romantic AND useful gift than this Elsa Peretti bookmark. I use mine every single day.

Home Fragrance: I know it sounds incredibly cliched but a candle does make a beautiful gift – more so, I’d argue when it doubles as a beautiful piece of decor. For that, you can’t go wrong with the ultra chic options over at LAFCO which as a beautiful selection of candles and diffusers in handblown vessels.

Sexy Soap Dish: This iconic bathing lady soap dish is a near universal gift for every woman in your life – I use mine for jewelry!

Smushy Cardigan: Few things bring me the joy that a big mushy cardigan does. This one from Aerie has been stuck to me like glue for the past few weeks, it’s so incredibly cozy and warm and I love the pink colorway!

Specialty Drinkware: One can never have too many mugs or glasses – it’s a very sweet and easy to gift option. I love the Home Sweet Home mug from Rifle Paper Co. and you will pry my ultra simple and indestructible Apilco Porcelain mugs out of my dead hands! For glassware, I adore the everything Upstate NY makes.

The Cherry on Top: I have a small collection of these murano glass cherries – they are perfect gifts, the most adorable addition to any dresser or bedside table.

Enter Annie Cavalero: the California based jewelry designer creates stunning pieces that incorporate vibrant gemstones, candy colored enamel, and glossy unctuous gold. Annie’s jewelry is unapologetically fun and as I found out in our (2 hour, we love to chat) conversation – so is she. And just like her the piece she designs, her business model is full of heart: when she’s not working closely with the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, she’s fostering any number of precious pups with her husband, actor Tony Cavalero.

For Material Girls looking to scoop up an Annie original, she has so so graciously given me a code just for you guys; use MATERIALGIRL20 at checkout :)

Can you start by telling my a bit about your entry point into jewelry? What was your earliest inspiration?

I’d have to say my grandparents, especially on my dad’s side. My granddad was a geologist and my grandmother loved being married to one! Our house to this day is covered in crystals and they’re actually all crystals that he found. So it’s very, very meaningful. He as also a collector of gems and my grandmother was a rock hound in the jewelry sene, very much a collector. There’s even a picture of me standing in their safe just covered in necklaces and all my grandmother’s rings. So I think I get my love for good jewelry design from her.

I absolutely love that there’s a familial connection.

Well my grandmother taught me at a very young age the connective element of it. I spent so much quality time with her going through her safe, seeing her most cherished pieces. And then toward the end of her life, every time we went out to see her — her daughter-in-law, my aunt, she would get all of us at the table and give us each one piece and tell us why she was giving it to us. And that’s why it’s so meaningful; at the time you think ‘oh this jewelry’s so beautiful,’ and now I look back and whenever I wear it I remember the story of why she loved it.

And that must influence how you think about your own designs, right?

Yes, very much so. The more life I live, the more I think about my jewelry like body armor. And I know it sounds cliched because the term modern heirloom is used a lot these days, but for me it really rings true. Because half the jewelry I put on everyday is mine that I’ve designed and half is from my grandmother.

I’ve also been able to actually use some of my grandfather’s gems in my pieces. Even just a few weeks ago – my parents finished cleaning out my aunt’s condominium, and she passed a few years ago and she had all my grandads crystals. All the gems were packed in these little Ziploc bags that said Texas Strong on them, and I was collecting them all and thinking, “That’s granddad Joe.” His DNA is threaded right into my love of jewelry. And all the pieces I make with his stones, I do keep. And I even keep the handwritten baggies, even seeing his handwriting is poignant to me — like they’re screaming from the beyond that they feel held. And that’s what jewelry is uniquely capable of.

I also feel like as a woman, jewelry holds a lot of meaning; there’s power in it, right?

Yes! I read something so interesting the other day that really resonated – about how jewelry is something that’s seen as frivolous or materialistic but historically, it was a way that women could have their own piece of something and protect themselves financially. It was an investment opportunity that we had before we were allowed to have other opportunities.

What I love so much about your pieces is how you balance this real whimsy with elegance; they’re wearable but still feel very special. Can you give me a peak behind the scenes when it comes to designing and creating them?

Jewelry was always something I’ve loved. I designed pieces for my dad to give to my mom in high school with gems from my grandparents. And I went to school for comedy – and I was laser focused on that for a long time and jewelry was really just my own private joy. But then the pandemic hit and I needed something to keep my hands busy and off my phone, so I learned how to bead candy necklaces. And now I get to work with all these incredible craftspeople who take the crazy ideas that I have and turn them into this tactile piece you can wear.

Right now I’m working this collection of signet rings that all play into the idea of modern armor; one has a leopard coming out that says “fuck ‘em.” I’m researching signet rings and pinky rings from the Victorian era and how women would wear them on their pinkies to indicate that they weren’t on the market for marriage, like ‘don’t talk to me, I’m not looking for a man right now.’ I’ve been thinking a lot about women’s rage and infusing that into what I create — harnessing that power because we are not socialized ti embrace it. And I don’t want my pieces to feel so fancy that you can’t wear them everyday but I want them to feel bold and I want them to encourage people to take up space. I hope every time someone looks at a piece of mine you’re reminded of all the fucking hard work you did to buy it and what a badass you are.

You also do so much philanthropy work with your jewelry, can you talk a little bit about that?

Tony and I are both with the Groundlings and every year they do a holiday show for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Tony did it one year and when he came back he was just like, that was the most magical experience and I want us to do it together. So we started volunteering in their creative oasis program; they have all these playrooms they’ve designed to be as beautiful as possible and they all focus on creative-based activities like musical instruments and arts and crafts and they always have an artist in residence who works with the children.

During the pandemic the protocols changed so we couldn’t volunteer in person as much so being able to donate proceeds from my jewelry was a great way to stay connected and involved with this wonderful place. It’s such a huge and meaningful part of our life.

The pieces available right now that benefit the CHLA are SO gorgeous too. Can you tell me a little about them specifically?

100% of sales from this snake ring and pendant benefit CHLA’s Artists Program that Tony and I volunteer with, in their Creative Oasis. In my own work, I feel firsthand on the daily just how powerful the creative process is for the human spirit, empowering self-expression and fostering connection - all of which are the tenets of this incredibly meaningful program.

Both donation pieces feature aquamarines that were so generously donated by the legendary lapidary David Nassi and his brilliant wife Adriana. My great-grandad on my mom’s side was a lapidary, so I have such a deep respect for the art form and the craftspeople who master it.

David cuts all of their gems himself, and is truly an industry icon (I live for his Instagram stories when he posts pieces featuring his stones from one of the top jewelry brands or another - yes, THAT ONE. Yep. That one too. Or a stone he cut that has just sold for an eye-watering number at one of the major auction houses.)

So, I am so thrilled to be able to offer my fellow rockhounds a chance to own stones from such a renowned gem cutter, who is generally known for stones worth more than my own life. With every dollar from these two special designs going to a cause so close to our heart, this beautiful program that ensures the hospital doesn’t stop at medicine and infuses creativity, expression and joy into healing... Such a massive honor and pure joy to dream up.

Spooky season is upon us so what could be more timely than a list of all my favorite spooky reads?

Penguin Classics, Vampire Trilogy: Penguin Classics just did this *beautiful* reissue of three classic vampire stories, Dracula, Carmilla, and The Gilda Stories with the most lush new cover art and vibrant red spines that look oh, SO good on my bookshelf. Whether you’re rereading these definitive vampire novels or experiencing them for the first time, I cannot recommend this set enough – also makes a great gift for the spooky reader in your life. (Available 10/14, but you can preorder now!)

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley: Another must read, before you tune in to Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein or Maggie Gyllenhaal The Bride!, pick up this reissue of the horror classic.

The Snowman, Jo Nesbo: The Scandi that made me fall in love with the genre; don’t be fooled by the title – there’s nothing festive about what you’ll find here.

The Lost Village, Camilla Sten: This book did the most phenomenal mind fuck where you really thought you knew where it was going and then at the end you realized you had fallen into a trope trap without even seeing it.

I Remember You, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir: One of the only horror novels that uses the olfactory senses to heighten the fear and christ is it effective. A chilling and morbid ghost story.

The Only One Left, Riley Sager: I envy the person who gets to experience this book for the first time again; equal parts haunted (??) house thriller and murder mystery, it is eerie and will keep you guessing until the last page.

The Sandman, Lars Kepler: Lars Kepler writes some of my favorite thrillers and they are dark and depraved in a way that few authors pull off so well. The Sandman introduces their Hannibal Lector like sociopath who remains a fixture through the series and is one of the most bone chilling.

The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson: Shirley is a legend for a reason and this is arguably her most famous; it is subtle and quiet in its horror in a way that really sneaks up on you. I remember reading it for the first time and thinking ‘oh this isn’t that scary’ and then being convinced someone was outside my house.

Look Closer, David Ellis: One of the most perfectly executed thrillers I’ve ever read. You’re wrong, you don’t know where it’s going, I promise.

The September House, Carissa Orlando: A phenomenal haunted house story that is as much about grief and violence as it is about ghosts.

Night Watching, Tracy Sierra: So the scariest thing in the world really is being a woman! And being disbelieved by the people around you! At the peril of your CHILDREN! And a home invasion??? Tracy how dare you combine all my greatest fears in one novel!

Home Before Dark, Riley Sager: Another perfect haunted house novel from Riley; this one really makes your hair stand on end and it has short delectable chapters that make for an absolute indulgence of a novel.

Come Closer, Sara Gran: I say it every time I recommend this book: it’s pitched as a book about demonic possession that makes you feel as though you are actually being possessed and it DELIVERS.

Diavola, Jennifer Thorne: I have been chasing the vibe of this book ever since I read it; there is something about a female ~presence~ that is so much more sinister and the Italian countryside setting of this book makes it feel like White Lotus but haunted.

No Road Home, John Fram: John is one of my favorite horror/thriller authors and No Road Home is one of the only thrillers I’ve read that tackles family and fertility in a way that appreciates the nuance of it.

The Midnight Knock, John Fram: Speaking of John, I did something right in a past life because I got to read his latest, The Midnight Knock when it was still just a baby PDF and I immediately texted him and was like YOU FUCKING DID IT AGAIN. If you love David Lynch, this one’s for you babes.

The Empusium, Olga Tokarczuk: This is my favorite “something is amiss in this sanitarium” novel – it’s poetic and beautiful and somehow both incredibly blunt and fantastical. A short book you will want to savor.

We Used to Live Here, Marcus Kliewer: I love scary books but it’s rare that I have an actual visceral to the point of unpleasant fear response when I read and this book did that. It’s the kind of book you finish and put in another room because you don’t want it near you when you’re sleeping.

Victorian Psycho, Virginia Feito: What a sick little fucker this one is. If you like drafty victorian homes, sinister children, and depraved twists, this delivers. This is one of those horror novels that you almost feel weird recommending to people but I mean that as a compliment.

Old Soul, Susan Barker: One of the most original takes on the vampire novel I’ve ever read and another book that manipulates the senses in a way that is both revolting and addictive.

The Unworthy, Agustina Bazterrica: A dystopian convent? Where they’re torturing each other? Yes. Please. Perfect novel, no notes.

You Should Have Left, Daniel Kehlmann: Another favorite theme in horror for me is spaces and houses that shape shift while the characters are in them and this slim and surreal novel delivers a very immersive experience.

My Death, Lisa Tuttle: Made me afraid of my own job? 10000/10 would recommend.

Night Film, Marisha Pessl: Lost media as a theme is always so fun and this one is particularly dark. A behemoth of a read, it is well worth the investment.

Great Granny Webster, Caroline Blackwood: I love that Caroline Blackwood was a full heiress and was like “what if I air out all my family’s dirty laundry by writing sick horror novels.” An icon!

Knock Knock, Open Wide, Neil Sharpson: The most recent horror novel I read this uses Celtic folklore and changing timelines to such an phenomenal effect. There is a moment in the opening horror sequence that is unlike anything I have ever read before and I cannot stop picturing it.

Today we’re going to do a wrap up of my favorite books all summer and I’ll also share with you some ARC’s I have en route, some books I have on pre-order, and some titles on my physical TBR that I am simply frothing at the mouth to get to.

Audition, Katie Kitamura: I will read anything Katie writes and Audtion was a beautiful head trip of a book about how much we really know ourselves and the people around us. Her prose has a way of making you understand feelings you never had the occasion to feel.

The Safekeep, Yael Van Der Wooden: One of the most breathtaking books I have ever read, I can absolutely see how this landed on the Booker. A taut story about queer intimacy contextualized by a prescient conversation about political violence. If you think you know what the twist is that everyone is talking about, you’re wrong!

Universality, Natasha Brown: A whip smart novel that starts with someone being bludgeoned by a gold bar and somehow manages to never for a second be heavy handed in its class analysis. Devoured this in 24 hours.

The Nude, C. Michelle Lindley: A visceral story about art, exploitation, and a woman pushing herself to the brink set against the blistering sun of the Greek islands. A perfect summer read but I’d have found myself immersed no matter the season.

The Stalker, Paula Bomer: Vivid and grotesque, Bomer’s ability to capture the interior world of a violent misogynist is artful without ever being exploitative. A hard read but a worthy one for women who need some catharsis and men who need a reality check.

Swimming Home, Deborah Levy: This sensual tale of a family vacation gone awry pulls at the fraying threads of extramarital desires and the destruction they leave in their wake.

Rytual, Chloe Elisabeth Wilson: Laugh out loud funny, Wilson paints a hot pink picture of the absurdity of the wellness industrial complex and the insidious cult-like mechanisms that fuel it.

Land of Milk and Honey, C Pam Zhang: A timely and unctuous read about the fragile insularity of wealth that reminded me of Poe’s Masque of the Red Death but sapphic.

The Dinner Party, Viola van de Sandt: The most claustrophobic book I read all summer, a ~300 page vice grip about the casual, even banal ways that domestic violence infiltrates our lives.

The Compound, Aisling Rawle: A searing commentary on reality TV; Love Island but make it apocalyptic is how it’s pitched but the further you read the more you’ll be questioning if perhaps we’re not that far off from the apocalypse already.

Termush, Sven Holm: Much like the Land of Milk and Honey, Termush lays bare the fragile bubble that the wealthy build around themselves in times of societal collapse. Send this one to Silicone Valley and make it required reading.

Fundamentally, Nussaibah Younis: A pitch perfect blend of humor and earnest cultural insight – Younis tells the story of a woman who is grappling with how her own perceptions of self complicate her job deprogramming ISIS brides. Also includes the best answer to two truths and a lie I’ve ever heard.

The Sleepwalker, Lars Kepler: I will never skip a Kepler and I zoomed through this doorstopper of a book. Sick, twisted, and adeptly executed.

My Death, Lisa Tuttle: What a weird little fucking fever dream this was. The end made me feel like I was in that phase when you’re just waking up but still technically dreaming. A sharp insight into how much we absorb from the people we seek and idolize.

Hotel Nantucket, Elin Hildebrand: I read one of Elin’s books every summer and this one was juicy, light enough that it was fun but not so light that I felt bored or cringey. Perfect for the beach or anytime you’re yearning for that salt between your toes feeling.

Most anticipated on my TBR:

• Permanence, Sophie MacKintosh

• Wax Child, Olga Ravn

• House of Day, House of Night, Olga Tokarczuk

• A Good Person, Kirstin King

• Nymph, Stephanie LaCava

• Yesteryear, Caro Claire Burke

Happy August, or as I call it – happy “almost Fall and thank fucking god.” The last couple months have been a bit trying. Longtime readers will know I deal with endometriosis and without going into it too much detail, it is once again rearing it’s ugly head. That combined with my absolute loathing of the heat means I have been doing a lot of cathartic shopping.

As such, I’ve curated a lovely list of items that – for under $200 – give me the hit I need of shopping serotonin without completely breaking my bank. And so, for today’s issue, I bestow that selection on you so that whatever you are managing in your life right now, there’s a salve to add to cart.

Ted Muehling Earrings: Now that I’m firmly in my 30’s I’m finally embracing artsy jewelry and in the last few months I’ve acquired three pairs of Ted Muehling’s. Some are pricier than others but so many of his Berries style come in under $200 and they are both wearable and incredibly unique. I have the agate and they look blue gray at first but turn the most beautiful amber when the light hits them!

Elsa Peretti Bookmark: Speaking of artsy – I’ve been slowly collecting Elsa Peretti pieces over the last few years, both vintage and new and this bookmark is easily one of the best things I’ve bought all year. It is under $100 and comes beautifully packaged as all Tiffany pieces do, and also makes a great gift for any book lover in your life.

Calico Critters (or Sylvanian Families): On the other end of the financial spectrum, nothing quite hits the spot like these felted babies. Whether it’s a super cheap blind box or a rare edition on eBay, they are pure joy.

Read more

Today’s issue comes to you from across the world (not me, I’m not that adventurous) but our guest feature is on author Chloe Elisabeth Wilson, the brilliant Australian author behind the new book Rytual. I came across this book on Instagram and literally emailed Chloe’s agent in Australia to be like… how do I get my hands on this perfect sounding book.

I adore books that lay bare how truly unhinged and cult-like the wellness industrial complex is and some of my favorite reads as of late have done just that, so as soon as I read the description for Rytual I was like, sign me up, I’m in, no more questions ask. (And now that I say that out loud, I realize what it would take to get me in a cult.)

Needless to say, by the last page I was like… give me everything this fucking girl writes. (More on that at the end of the interview.) In Rytual Chloe creates the most indulgent, rapturous world of toxic girl bosses, horny chaos, the cult of capitalism, and the enduring allure of the perfect fragrance or lipstick. And never fear – you might not see Rytual on Barnes & Noble, but US readers can purchase directly from Australia here.

How would you like to introduce yourself to my lovely lil gaggle of readers?

Hi hello! I’m Chloe, I’m an Australian writer, former horse girl and avid Nicole Kidman fan based between Melbourne and Los Angeles. I’ve had the bit about Nicole Kidman in my bio for a few years now, but as I get closer to one day (hopefully) meeting her, I do worry she’ll think I’m a crazed fan a la Ingrid Goes West. She’s a master of her craft and has one of the best filmographies in the biz, okay? It’s very simple.

I know you spent some time at a ~beauty brand~ prior to writing Rytual, and that it was a big inspo for the book itself. Without giving too much away were there moments you look back on that felt like catalysts for this story?

Absolutely. One memory I return to often was from my time working in-store. I was sitting out the back in the ‘staff room’ – which was actually just a corridor behind the product shelves – completing an e-learning module. The training team had created a video about hydration that featured a woman with silver hair applying face cream in a weird grey warehouse. It reminded me so intensely of this scene from Broad City, except it was deathly serious. I couldn’t stop laughing about it. I wanted to write something that spoke to the absurdity of little moments like that, while also evoking the tropes of an erotic thriller.

I think one of the things I really loved about Rytual (and maybe this says more about me) was that even with all the cult-y elements of the Rytual brand, you never really made a clearcut villain out of the women who worked there. Can you talk about how you navigated that nuance as you created these characters?

A lot of trial and error! I think if I went back and re-read the first draft now I’d be horrified by how two-dimensional the characters were. The more time I spent in the document, the more I was able to fine-tune the way the women interact with each other. With Luna, I was constantly asking myself ‘would this work on me?’ Or more specifically, ‘would this have worked on my younger self?’ I spent most of my twenties looking for someone to tell me who I was, so Luna’s character was wish-fulfillment in a way. I also think that people who do bad things rarely think of themselves as a villain – I wanted to explore how she might justify her behavior to herself and those around her, and the mental hoops people would jump through to believe her.

I also think it did such an incisive job of showing how insidious cult-y behavior is, especially in corporate or capitalist environments – and how it's so closely intertwined with the relationships we form at work. Talk about how you paced the relationship between Luna and Marnie to this effect.

This also came down to trial and error – essentially, I wanted to begin the book with a lot of humor and witty banter to win the reader over, and then as the story progresses I wanted to challenge how far they would follow Marnie on her journey to becoming a true rytuałist (for those who haven’t read the book, this is what rytuał cosmetica employees call each other because… corporations). When I was re-drafting, I looked at Marnie and Luna’s relationship as a series of boundaries crossed/values abandoned. It happens slowly at first, but by the end Marnie has completely discarded her own ideas of right and wrong in favour of Luna’s affection. Is that a spoiler? I am a complete liability when it comes to spoilers and/or secrets so I apologise in advance. I also had to learn how to create sexual tension as I was writing, and let me tell you… it’s hard! I hope I pulled it off in the end.

If you could put Rytual in the hands of anyone – celeb, academic, random woman in the world, dead or alive – who would you loooove to see it reach?

The obvious answer is Nicole Kidman but I’m going to throw a curveball and say Rachel Weisz!!!!!!! There is no role for her in this book as it stands, but she could play any/all of them if she wanted to. I also think, based on the projects she’s produced, we have similar tastes (horny woman’s life unravels), and I would write literally anything for her.

What (if anything) can you tell us about what comes next from you? (Please say another book immediately.)

Yes! I’ve got another one cooking. It’s similar to Rytual in some ways but super different in others. It’s about art and ambition and technology, and it’s set at an elite arts university. The university has effectively been bought out by an Amazon-esque company, and the book follows a year in the life of a student and teacher who join a professional development program run by the company. But, similar to Rytual, all is not what it seems…….. I’m also working on a few film and TV projects – after I deliver this next novel I’d love to focus on film and TV for a bit, because what I want most of all (even more than to meet Nicole Kidman) is to one day write for Severance!!! One of the greatest TV shows of all time, IMO!

In case you haven’t noticed, the theme of the last few issues (and every summer thus far) has been: summer is miserable, here’s what I wear and do to make it bearable. We’ve covered clothes so now let’s talk about makeup.

If my face feels even a little bit wet or sweaty or hot my day is ruined so I really adjust my makeup routine accordingly in the heat. (My skincare remains largely unchanged because I use sunscreen year round and you should too.)

So let’s fix our face.

I start every single day with the Beauty of Joseon Aqua Sunscreen. It’s lightweight but effective, and it doesn’t make me greasy or sticky throughout the day. I know they’re also coming out with a new formula when the brand hits Sephora which I might be trying if the Aqua one becomes hard to get imported.

After that, I use a lightweight foundation with an SPF or a tinted sunscreen. My favorite as of late has also been the BoJ but my ride or die is the Dior. That being said, the former has a great shade range, but the latter… abysmal.

I also love the Ciele products which all have an SPF in them. I use their concealer under my eyes as well as their bronzing drops for added warmth on my face.

It’s counterintuitive but I reach for powder products more in the summer because I find they help my face feel dry all day. But I also don’t like to look matte so my recent go-to’s have been the Westman Atelier Blush Duos which are weightless and have great color payoff, or the Kosas blush and bronzer.

Finally, I set my face every single day, all year round with Chanel Loose Powder. It is the *only* powder that keeps my face (especially my forehead under my bangs, a CRITICAL area for sweat prevention) dry.

I keep my eye makeup *very* simple in the summer because if I have a lot on I feel like my eyes are sweating shut. Have I mentioned I hate sweating. This usually involves a little bit of Westman Atelier Eyeshadow which go on like a cream but set like a powder. I’ll define my lash line with a little bit of Soshe Eyeliner on my waterline and Hermes eyeliner in the very outer corner of my top lid, smudged out a bit. Then I’ll finish with the Westman Atelier Mascara for a natural look. If I’m going out or want a little more oomph I’ll use my holy grail Chanel Le Volume in Brown which somehow manages to add weight to your lashes without feeling heavy. And if I know I’m going to be outside in the heat where my mascara might be inclined to melt, I use the Rom&nd Mascara which I think would stay put if someone sprayed me with one of those hoses that firefighters use.

Finally, I finish my face off with a little Westman Atelier or Dior Highlight, some fake freckles (no more real freckles from the sun for me!)

On my lips, I’ve been doing a lip stain – either the new Huda one or this one from Dasique, and a gloss. Most often, I reach for my Summer Friday’s Birthday Cake but I also love the Rhode and the Naturium formulas. For added pigment I’ll add a swipe of the Westman Atelier lipstick.

Longtime readers will know that I am serious about my sleepwear which is why I am so, so excited about today’s issue. There are really only two things in this world that I actually sleep in: La Perla silk slips (yes, I know, I KNOW) and Eileen West nightgowns. Now, if you aren’t already acquainted with Eileen West, chances are a woman in your family is. My mom introduced me to Eileen West nightgowns – I remember seeing her wear them when I was little and thinking they were the epitome of femininity – and now we’re both fans.

Eileen West nightgowns are perfect; whether you want to channel a Jane Austen heroine or cottage core-chic, these are the nightgowns you have been looking for. They are available in every length and style your heart desires – I personally adore the ankle length ones for peak Lana del Rey “I’ve been tearing up town in my fucking nightgown” vibes but I also have a few knee length ones for warmer weather. (They also make for some of my all time favorite gifts!)

They come in everything from delicate floral patterns to the most beautiful shades of pastels — all finished with intricate embroidery detailing. They’re also incredibly size inclusive and incredible quality not just for the price, but period. Seriously, I have a few Celestine nightgowns which are hand sewn in Germany and will set you back a couple hundred dollars a piece (again, I know, I KNOW) and a few Loretta Caponi (do not even Google the price, please) and they are lovely and incredible don’t get me wrong – but my Eileen West can go toe to toe with them any day.

I was so incredibly lucky to have the chance to chat with Melissa Nerges who is the Director of Merchandising and E-Commerce for Eileen West about the legacy of the brand, watching a new generation fall in love with the iconic nightgowns, and more. (And please read to the bottom because I’ll link to some of my EW favs!)

Tell me about your journey to Eileen West!

I’ve had the privilege of working on the Eileen West brand for 21 years and was so fortunate to collaborate directly with Eileen herself for over a decade. She was more than a designer—she was an artist, a visionary, and a truly kind soul who believed in the power of thoughtful design. Eileen had her hand in every detail, from selecting lace trims to painting the original florals that inspired our signature prints. Working alongside her was both a gift and a masterclass in integrity and timeless design.

Eileen West for me is such a meaningful brand – I grew up seeing my mother wear them to bed (she still does!) and to me it felt like the most glamorous thing in the world, to watch her get ready for bed with this beautiful nightgown. What does the Eileen West legacy mean to you?

The brand holds a deep emotional resonance for so many women, and I have always been moved by stories like yours—of daughters watching their mothers slip into an Eileen West gown and feeling a sense of beauty, comfort, and grace. That generational connection is what makes this brand so special. For me, the legacy is about celebrating femininity in its most authentic form—natural, romantic, effortless—and carrying that forward with intention and care.

Eileen West is timeless and ageless – how do you continue to accomplish this as you roll out new collections?

Timelessness is the core of Eileen West. Every collection begins with a reverence for our heritage—classic silhouettes, heirloom details, and natural fabrics—but we evolve through subtle shifts in print scale, color stories, and leaning into some more modern styling. We also listen closely to our customer and pay attention to how women are living today. Whether it's designing in 100% cotton line for breathability or a cute lacy white chemise for all-day wear, we aim to create pieces that feel both enduring and current.

What are the brand’s non-negotiables in the design process?

Our non-negotiables are quality, comfort, craftsmanship, and authenticity. We never compromise on fabric feel or construction. There’s a soulfulness to our product—a softness that’s not just physical, but emotional. That sense of care is something we’re always honoring.

I see so many TikToks about younger women looking for the perfect romantic nightgown and finding Eileen West. What is it like seeing a new generation fall in love with the brand?

It’s incredibly rewarding to see a new generation discovering Eileen West through platforms like TikTok. There’s a movement happening—people are leaning into romanticism and ritual, especially in how they wind down and care for themselves. Sleepwear has become a form of self-expression and self-care, and I love that these younger women are embracing the beauty of getting ready for rest in something that feels meaningful.

I adore how size inclusive Eileen West is. How meaningful is it to deliver your gowns to a full size range?

We believe every woman deserves to feel beautiful and at ease in her skin, especially in moments of rest. That’s why we offer a full size range from XXS to 3X. We design each piece with intention across every size—not just grading up or down but ensuring the same flattering fit and detail for every body.

Can you tell us anything about what’s next for the brand?

We’re especially excited about our upcoming dress collection for Spring 2026—a natural evolution for the brand. These pieces blend the romantic detailing Eileen West is known for with the ease and versatility of daywear. Think soft cottons, flowing silhouettes, delicate embroidery, and the kind of effortless beauty that moves seamlessly from home to out and about. It’s our way of extending the Eileen West lifestyle into more moments of a woman’s day, while staying true to our roots in comfort and craftsmanship.

What are your personal favorite items? What are your go to for gifts?

The white cotton lawn gowns—especially the iconic “Eileen” style—will always be close to my heart. But when it comes to gifting, I often reach for something from our Queen Anne’s Lace collection. These gowns are pure romance—crafted in our finest cotton batiste with intricate lace and heirloom details. Paired with one of our soft, cozy robes, it’s the ultimate gift of comfort and elegance. It feels like giving someone a little piece of luxury they can cherish for years.

Material Girl’s Eileen West Must Haves:

• Absolutely every woman needs a white Eileen West nightgown. My favorites are this one and this one.

• I also love the printed Eileen West nightgowns – the Swiss dot detailing on this is so beautiful and this is the current most worn nightgown in my rotation.

• Whatever you do, do not overlook Eileen West’s modal selection. I wear these around the house and they have also been absolute lifesavers for me over the years recovering from endometriosis surgeries. My current favorites are this one and this one.

• If you’re not a nightgown person, Eileen West also makes beautiful separates that can easily double as loungewear and no Eileen West collection is complete without one of their dreamy Victorian robes!