One of my favorite things to think about is “life hacks”—random things that save you time, energy, money, or make your life better in some way.

While I’m not suggesting you join another platform unless you want to, I do recommend you try a few of these “hacks”:

Have friends at different ages

Once you enter fully into adulthood a funny thing happens in that your friends start to span age brackets. Currently, my friends range in ages from late 20s to 50s, and I get different things out of these different relationships. What a gift.

Book an early dinner reservation

Is anything better than an early dinner? Not only do you get to start dinner earlier, but you're done sooner which means plenty of time to read/relax/watch TV.

Create a calendar reminder before you buy

When I’m on the fence about a purchase, I set a Google Calendar reminder for a few days (or weeks) away with the link. If I still want the item once the alert comes through, I am maybe allowed to buy it. You’d be amazed at how many things are “meh” a few weeks later.

Slip dresses for weddings

I once bought a long slip dress for a wedding and never looked back. There’s nothing easier to pack, repeat, style differently, or layer than a slip dress–you’ll wear it to so many weddings, and then rewear differently throughout your trip (and for your next event).

Have a random kitchen chair

My grandparents always had a chair by the corded landline in their kitchen, right next to a little table with a pen and pad of paper. This is an excellent idea—you can sit while you’re waiting for the water to boil, whatever. It's cozy, nostalgic, and references the classics (landlines).

Bring something for a friend

There’s something that feels so intimate when you meet up with a friend and they have something for you—a book you’d talked about or a shirt you’re borrowing. The next time you see a friend, bring them a little surprise—it could be as small as a piece of candy—but it’s fun and meaningful.

Give your home a signature scent

Choose one candle or incense and use it throughout your home, all the time. Chic and easy to do. (This is mine).

Buy matching coat hangers

Perhaps obvious, but a few years ago I updated my hangers so that they were all matching, then did the same with rubber bands and other miscellaneous items around my home. This does something to me mentally that I can't explain and makes me feel so together. Recommend!

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Thanks for being here,

Robin

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based brand strategist and editorial director.

Join me on Instagram here. P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

There’s something special in the way rooms make us feel that’s impossible to articulate. Often, it has nothing to do with the decor; it’s just the energy of the space and the people who inhabitant it. Think of walking around in your grandparents’ home, or a cabin you once visited growing up, and you’ll know what I mean.

I love when a space—could be a room or even a city—tells me how to feel. I want to visit and have it declared to me that this, THIS, is what we’re doing now. All that’s left to do is surrender.

I expect the same from movies, which is why I find myself revisiting certain rooms in movies again and again. Here are a few of my favorites:

The kitchen (and entire house) in Call Me By Your Name

Outdoor seating in La Piscine

This room in The Talented Mr. Ripley

The dad’s L.A. apartment in Beginners

This bedroom in Annie Hall

This bedroom in Single White Female

Rooms in the movies of Éric Rohmer

Would be remiss not to include the kitchen in Father of the Bride (I and II)

And Harry’s post-breakup apartment (lol) in When Harry Met Sally

And finally, a few items that feel like these movies for reasons I can’t really name.

Brass Sconce ($289), L.L.Bean Pointelle Cami ($39), Luis Barragán 1952 cabinet, Prada Sunglasses ($550), Zara Home Folding Stool ($149), East Fork Maple Splint Basket ($98), Flore Flore Jill Longsleeve ($140), BODE Leather House Shoes ($690), 6397 Diagonal Denim Skirt ($525)

Thanks for being here,

Robin

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Robin Reetz is an NYC-based marketing consultant and editor. Join me on Instagram here, learn more about my business here.

P.S. Some of the products featured in my newsletters are gifted. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

Outside of travel, this has been a summer of the Knicks and the World Cup, slowly decorating our new apartment, and lots and lots of reading.

I’m not the only one. The Strangers, Yesteryear, Famesick trifecta collectively took over our library holds and ear buds in late spring. I enjoyed all three for varying reasons….the sandwich in Strangers! The twist in Yesteryear! The subsequent rewatch of Girls after finishing Famesick!

Next on my reading list was The Witch by Marie NDiaye because, well, obviously. Recently translated to English from its native French, the book is about a generational gift passed along from a mother to her daughters. I found it haunting and enjoyable.

At the same time, I followed my reading recipe of non-fiction audiobook + fiction physical book and borrowed the audio file of Patrick Raden Keefe’s Empire of Pain from the library. The book chronicles the evil and somewhat unexpected history of the Sackler family, aka owners of Perdue Pharma. I’m excited to dive in to the various documentaries and miniseries about the family once I’m done.

It’ll be hard to top Whistler, which I finished in two days while we were in Mexico and cried like a baby when I did. POOL HOUSE by Mary H.K. Choi is up next, followed by my the latest from favorite author, Deborah Levy. I can’t wait.

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What I’m wearing and why:

Sun protection. Love these fun earrings. An easy, affordable summer tee. Longer shorts and skirts with easy tanks. Dreaming of this dress. Flip flops, constantly.

The beauty products I’m using right now:

I’ve been testing Dermalogica’s Retinol Serum—it’s very gentle for anyone in the market, just (obviously) don’t forget your SPF during the day. For minimal makeup in hot, sticky weather, I love Bisou Balm in Bêtise and Merit’s new mascara in Brown (!).

One organization to focus on this week:

CHiPS Park Slope is a local organization providing community support and residency to local neighbors in need. I happened upon it the other day and plan to get involved in the future—you should do the same, or find a similar organization in your neighborhood! The best place to start is right outside your front door.

Thanks for being here (and happy holiday weekend!),

Robin

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based brand strategist and editorial director.

Join me on Instagram here. P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

May I recommend that on that walk you get a soft serve or an overpriced, over-iced coffee. Later, if you’re feeling bold, try an evening sleeping without air conditioning, a single top sheet draped across your legs, with a rotating fan lulling you to sleep. A 70s/80s/90s mid-summer nights’ dream.

This feeling of youth and that sweet smell of warm air is hard to capture, but sometimes in the darker days of winter, I throw on “Call Me By Your Name” to remember the sun and the heat.

And with all of this in mind as we come off of an unbelievably good New York summer weekend, here’s a few other things that might be useful for summer in the city and beyond:

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

• Very cute SPF +50 clothing.

• Speaking of SPF, don’t forget your lips!

• Books:

  • Past: Finished the Yesteryear, Strangers, Famesick trifecta

  • Present: The Witch (digital library book); Empire of Pain (audio library book).

  • Future: Whistler; Pool House

• Good anklets.

• A serving set made for a panzanella. (ROBINR15 for a discount)

• New warm weather beverages I’m trying: AMA, watermelon + mint hydration.

• Two words: summer sweater. This linen pullover is so comfy-perfect for chilly evenings and offices.

• A bag you won’t feel bad about ruining with sunscreen, sand, and the like.

• Let’s get some NYC kids support for summer camp.

Also, Anja convinced me to join Rec League. If you’re there, come say hi!

Thanks for being here,

Robin

P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

I look at Emmy with awe for what she’s able to do with words and with her children. She’s someone I really think you should know, too:

Emmy, how do we know each other?

Twelve years ago, I helped start a digital magazine with another editor, during a moment when editorial still felt like the center of everything. It was the golden era of digital magazines (*remember rookie mag?) I don’t remember what you wrote for me but during that time we had a pretty insane list of people that were hustling and doing things for hardly any money whether it was just because we were doing cool things, you believed in them, just wanted portfolio work…You were on board.

Some of those people have become uber famous since—our cover girl was Annabelle Dexter Jones, Mick Jones shot it on a weird lo-fi digital camera, one of our stylists Miyako Bellizzi just styled the whole cast of Marty Supreme. This is just to say that we had something special, and you were a part of it. Many years later (10ish) we met again at rag & bone where I was your Director of Copy. I always say that the good people stick with you throughout your career, through ups and downs and twists and turns and we somehow met again.

Where do you live? what’s your profession?

I live in Jersey City, in a neighborhood called The Heights, known for its weekend farmers market. After many years in Greenpoint, my husband and I moved here for a little more room, first for a growing belly, and then for the children who followed.

At the core of everything I do, I’m a poet. That’s how I’ve always understood my work. It started with small poems and reflections, written without any real plan beyond the need to get something out. When I needed to make money, I folded in my other love—fashion—and found a way to let the two speak to each other.

I tend to do a lot at once. I grew up in the ’80s in a deeply creative family, raised around film photography, which is probably why I almost always had a camera on me—though less so lately, as things ebb and flow depending on the season of life. I dip in and out of branding, shaping logos and color stories for startups. I somehow found myself writing for baby brands like Coterie, Gooselings, and Nestig, maybe because I’m drawn to work that mirrors my real life (like cleaning up spit-up). Most recently, I’ve been writing more personal pieces for Spread the Jelly, exploring motherhood and everything that comes with it.

My full-time role is at Madewell, where I’ve been lucky to be part of a truly special leadership team, led by Laura Michaels, who pushed me forward in ways I didn’t yet know were possible. Great leaders have a way of changing how your craft feels—not just how it looks on paper. You’ve been one of those people, too.

Right now, I’m quietly working on a project called MTHRBRD. It isn’t ready yet because it isn’t perfect, but I believe in it, I’m just scared to let it fly.

You have a weekend with no plans. What are you doing with it?

Really ordinary things. Taking the kids to my mom’s. That small relief of having my hands free for a moment, of seeing the baby settle in someone else’s arms. Driving around just to get out of the house, listening to my music instead of toddler tunes. Walking with the baby strapped to me, the rhythm of it calming us both. Some Sundays my mom will cook, and I don’t have to think or plan or decide. It’s nice to feel taken care of when you’re mostly always taking care of other people.

An item you’re coveting (or, something you recently bought and liked).

I have this little bezel pendant that I’ve been putting on different ball chains—Alyssa Wasko of Donni sent me over this super cheap red cord necklace she’s been wearing that I might buy to put it on. I like the feeling of a diamond on a paracord.

Then there is like this Rainer Daumiller French pine dining table that’s super thick that I wish I could have.

Also really happy with my recent Le Bonne Shop buys, Olend leopard bag I’m using as a diaper bag, Dorsey earrings, and the old school move of buying got2b glued from CVS to slick back my postpartum hairs.

Something you think the world needs right now.

More poetry. The good kind.

Emmy’s Recommended Reading

• The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion It gives language to grief

• Moms on Call (lol) When you’re exhausted and overwhelmed, it offers structure

• What Kind of Woman, Kate Baer Her writing feels like someone reaching out in the dark and saying the quiet parts of motherhood out loud.

• The Friday Afternoon Club, Griffin Dunne It’s about family, legacy, and loss without sentimentality

• A Heart That Works, Rob Delaney Breaks your heart and somehow puts it back together

Thank you so much, Emmy. Follow her and learn more about her work here, and buy her beautiful book of poetry here.

And also—

Thanks for being here,

Robin

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Robin Reetz is an NYC-based marketing consultant and editor. Join me on Instagram here, learn more about my business here.

P.S. Portions of this interview were edited for context and clarity. Some of the products featured in my newsletters are gifted. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

For cities, it goes like this: London—winter, Paris—spring, New York—fall, and so on and so forth.

People are the same. Though spring/summer are my favorite seasons, I’m undoubtedly a stylistic fall. I subscribe to the Lydia Tár school of dress, all trousers and button downs and shades of grey. In my mind, nothing will ever be as chic or quietly confident as this formula which is appropriate for all sorts of weather scenarios and social situations. As it were, it is my uniform, to put things into Substack terms.

But, I can admit a button down and trousers don’t exactly work when it’s 92°F and you’re running for the train. Here’s how I make it work—balancing casual and cool—in the season of summer:

1

Kallmeyer Wynn Tee—almost sold out ($145), COS Sheer Column Skirt (~$100), KHAITE x Oliver Peoples Aviator Sunglasses ($495), Rachel Comey Pillow Bag ($650), GEWLS Chiara Kitten Heel ($450)

2

MADE SOME Japan Tee ($150), Ashley Williams Printed Mini Skirt (~$300), Janessa Leone Felix Bucket Hat ($257), Zoe Chicco Baroque Pearl Paracord Necklace ($185), Paloma Wool No. 2919 Sandals ($315), Versace Leather Shoulder Bag ($2,400)

3

Altuzarra Blaine Top ($995), POSSE Leo Skirt ($180), FRUITY BOOTY Blush Mini Dress ($204), FRUITY BOOTY Mini Tote ($35), CORDERA Estructura Sandal ($593)

4

Madewell Relaxed Crewneck Tee ($68), SEA NEW YORK Gardener Skirt ($450), TALINA Hair Clip ($86), Underwater Weaving Crescent Clutch ($310), Alex Mill Prince Street Ballet Flats ($228)

P.S.: Sophie helped me with my collages because I am terrible at them.

Thanks for being here,

Robin

Subscribe now

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based marketing consultant and editor. Join me on Instagram here, learn more about my business here.

P.S. Some of the products featured in my newsletters are gifted. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

This is my return to Brooklyn, and my partner’s first time and so far, well, so very good. We got in on a great place thanks to a dear friend who passed on our names, and are thrilled to be in a bright, airy, pre-war building above a flower shop and a stationery store (!) in prime Park Slope.

Without further ado, here’s where we’ve landed in all its (WIP) glory.

(Not actually where we live, but the simple elegance of this nearby window is my favorite)

Kitchen

Our sweet little south-facing kitchen has a big window that opens up to an ivy-covered wall. She’s sunny in the morning with lots of nooks and charm. I love her.

Alessi Pulcina Coffee Maker ($145), Pigeon Toe Ceramic Spoon Rest ($34), Linen Cafe Curtains

ICHENDORF Milano Deco Water Glasses ($105 for 6); Tortoise glasses—similar; Vintage Luminarc wine glasses ($31 for 2); Schott Zwiesel Modo White Wine Glasses ($45 for 4); Above—Mezcal Jicara Tasting Glasses ($90 for 6)

Bedroom

There’s a greenhouse below our bedroom window, and birds wake us up in the mornings—a real first for me in New York.

TBD what we’ll do with this space but I would welcome a chandelier from Fortuny if anyone is feeling generous.

Living Room

A lot will likely change in this room, but for now, she’s looking pretty lovely.

Wassily chairs that are secondhand from a friend; lamp and couch belonged to me grandparents; vase—similar

Misc/Other

We’re lucky enough to have two cloffices (closet-office) and a dining room that we’re still very much working through (also, a bathroom). It’s great to have friends who send you good furniture, and I have Molly to thank for my good vintage finds so far.

Much more to come!

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What I’m wearing and why:

Poplin season begins. Other than flip flops (again), these will undoubtedly be my sandal of the summer. Sporty pants and some opera shoes for balance. It’s the summer of big sunnies, and I like these aviators. This is fun. If I wore more necklaces.

The beauty products I’m using right now:

BAINA body wash for showers in my new bathroom. Merit lip liner with a little balm on top. Ceremonia’s hair mask which is just a staple at this point—it smells divine and makes my hair feel noticeably softer. Celisse for the return of sandal season.

One organization to focus on this week:

My older sister works with a nonprofit bilingual preschool in North Carolina. You should donate, either once or as a sustaining member. This is a small, very much locally run org, so your donation will go far.

Thanks for being here,

Robin

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based brand strategist and editorial director.

Join me on Instagram here. P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

We met this year and welp, I love her. I just know you will, too.

How do we know each other?

I can’t even remember anymore! I think it was classic meet cute of Internet Friends at Insert Brand Event Here. I remember thinking right away ‘Damn. I love that girl.’ And asking you for a coffee the week after.

Where do you live? What’s your profession?

I live in New York City, but I’m from Toronto, originally. I’ve only been here for around three-ish years. Baby New Yorker! By day, I manage community strategy and influencer relationships at JENNY BIRD. By night, I sleuth the internet in search of sprezza (in every which category, but especially fashion) for my own letter, Sofissimi!

You have a weekend with no plans. What are you doing with it?

Ugh, all I ever want. Ok, in no particular order, these are things that will be happening:

• early morning flower and provisions pick up at Union Square Green Market

• window (but also perhaps not...) shopping at Sorbara’s, OR on Orchard street (on Orchard I love Khata, Lara Kaleji, Ending Soon) (Scroll down to find Sofia’s vintage edit!)

• spontaneous early dinner somewhere cozy, glass of wine + dessert are non-negotiable

• one really long walk (I love the High Line...is that touristy of me? the landscaping is incredible!)

• one really good sweat

• something organizational to soothe my ADHD task obsessed brain (ie. clean out my closet, clean out a drawer)

• morning blueberry pancakes + moka pot couch rot with an episode of the Sopranos

An item you’re coveting (or, something you recently bought and liked)

Ok. Two things.

1) I just bought the full size of Matiere Premier ‘Vanilla Powder’…I’ve been testing a sampler and every single wear has brought on a compliment. I don’t make the rules, it had to be done.

2) I follow this fabulous online vintage store called ‘Regolare‘ - based in Toronto. I find the prices really fair and the selection to be great. I scooped up a vintage Miu Miu blouse. It’s white and crisp, and has sort of a girlish, femme energy I’m into as we shift into the new season. I shipped it to my parents house...lol

Something you think the world needs right now

Less screen time? Improved listening skills? A good, long hug? I wish I knew.

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Because we’re terribly lucky, Sofia put her retail chops and shopping skills to use with a roundup of some of her current favorites below:

I’m an ex-shopgirl, which means I can’t help but always have one eye open for My Next Great Piece (ex: Tops with Intrigue, Proof of Life <> Accessorizing). I was honored when you asked me to round up a couple things (some vintage, some new) to share with your readers, so here goes:

• I really have a thing for this Stefano Pilati era YSL Utility Jacket.

• I’m strangely obsessed with kiss locks.

• Everyone needs a crisp button down, I’ve been lusting after The Anteros—the cut, attention to detail, the cuffs…I like this one in dusty lilac.

• Flats from Yunni Buffa — I particularly love the profile of these.

• I’m taken with the idea of owning a cigarette case right now. For cards, cash, or...the good stuff on a cheeky night out...

• Another YSL find, this time from the Tom Ford era…a black handbag, with intrigue.

• I’m so into the Merma Earth hair clips like this one...

Thank you, sweet Sofia! Subscribe to her newsletter, Sofissimi, here, and follow her on IG here.

And also—

Thanks for being here,

Robin

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based marketing consultant and editor. Join me on Instagram here, learn more about my business here.

P.S. Portions of this interview were edited for context and clarity. Some of the products featured in my newsletters are gifted. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

We’re Park Slope-bound, and aside from the fact that we’ll be near-ish the new Canyon Coffee (lol), I’m excited for sunshine and more space. Our new apartment certainly has that. So naturally, the thing to do is think about shopping right? Right.

First, some inspo:

Images via Pinterest

As two people well into adulthood, my boyfriend and I have plenty of house things already, but a bigger space and a different vibe means shopping. I find it rare, at least in the city, that you can copy and paste your furniture from one apartment to another—the sizing, look, and vibe of one place just varies too much.

With that in mind, sharing a few of my favorite vintage (and new) pieces below. TBH, a few of them are sold out but you get the idea:

Top left to bottom right: Pine Chest ($595), Tiny Martini Glasses ($68), Door Tassels ($12), Linen Tea Towels ($40), La Mer Wall Sconce ($150), Merchant’s Desk ($550), Spindle-back Corner Bench, Ice Cream Cup ($28), Linen Shower Curtain ($128)

Outside of the above and in the realm of moving, as someone who receives a lot of packages I love this this box opener. Light, easy to use, has a ceramic blade—it helps you open packages with ease and without fear of cutting yourself. I genuinely think you should get it.

Now quick—give me one moving tip that I’ve forgotten about the last time I moved five years ago.

Thanks for being here,

Robin

Subscribe now

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based marketing consultant and editor. Join me on Instagram here, learn more about my business here.

P.S. Some of the products featured in my newsletters are gifted. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

While they haven’t been fully released, it’s safe to say we get the gist of the Epstein files. We get that there’s an unspeakably inappropriate obsession with girls that’s more widespread than many of us had considered. Even sort of common? An insane thought, and one I personally don’t know how to live with.

To be honest, it sort of checks out.

My coming of age was clothed in Limited Too and doused in Bath & Body Works. Victoria’s Secret came next. We now know that how we looked and smelled was decided by weird old men hiding behind mahogany desks in far flung offices. It’s easy to question those men, but this problem is rampant and really about a society that doesn’t like women and therefore chooses the most innocent among us to prey on.

Outside of the attacks themselves, the files are an attack on femininity and highlights the way we tolerate women instead of cherishing them. There’s just no place for us. We love girls and very young women, but after that you’re just lucky we keep you around.

Image via Little Women, ofc

This is a reality we know to be true. It bubbles under the surface until something happens that brings it rippling, boiling to the top—sometimes it’s an election, sometimes it’s a coworker’s comment.

Either way, it’s something most of us have always known in our bones.

With all of this in the background, I went to Paris a few weeks ago and spent five days watching the news from across a body of water.

It’s easier to connect the dots from afar, which this trip did for me in a few ways. Weirdly, Europe is where I find my confidence. In New York, my home of 16ish years, I’m confident intellectually—I know the schtick, I speak the unspoken language. It’s where I am mentally most myself. I like the grit and the realism and humor mixed with bouts of glamour and absurdity. That contrast is where the magic comes in.

In Europe, it’s a different story all together. Sure, I may be sweating my way through cafés as I work up the courage to order in another language, but ultimately I feel more in my body and part of the physical world.

Somatics come into play. I’m not ashamed of that body or the femininity that comes with it; I don’t feel the need to hide, guard, or manage it. I can almost even celebrate it.

On this last trip, I took stock of why. The first thing I noticed was that I move differently when walking—strolling!—around town. More relaxed, less hurried and distracted. It was sensual. My shoulders went back, and my hips, you know, moved.

I was present and felt beautiful rather than just somewhere between “hot” and “old.”

For some reason, I also started noticing the way handbags were carried. Instead of slung heavily over the shoulder, bags were governed by their namesake and carried in hand—by their handles!

Don’t find this unusual? Think about how often you carry your bag by the straps rather than on your shoulder. Then, think about how holding it in your hand would make you feel.

The difference in appearance and confidence is apparent. Carrying a handbag! By hand! puts femininity and luxury over comfort and convenience.

It makes it harder to carry a water bottle/protein bar/umbrella/jacket/laptop. It makes it easier to be.

Alas, this is not Emily in Paris—I’m well aware that every place in the world has its problems, certainly France. But American culture carries a type of shame that many of us subconsciously embody and I just don’t feel that in the same way when I leave.

With all of this in mind, my trip ended as it always does.

This time, I flew to JFK and took the AirTrain home, committed to feeling more confident and beautiful; less guarded and shameful.

To holding my head higher and, of course, holding my handbag for all to see.

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What I’m wearing and why:

The beginning of warmth. Short shorts. Pants to wear with poplin and a long braid on Saturdays. A springy cotton bomber; a fun dress; a darling coat. A bag I’d like to carry by hand; a Prada windbreaker. This Romy & Michelle dress I need for a wedding and an absolute stunner of a vintage Dior hat. “Jackie O in Greece” sandals.

Two beauty products I’m using right now:

Happy to report that I purchased EADEM’s Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm in Butter Mochi (aka clear) and I get what the fuss is about. It’s thick like an overnight balm but wears like a gloss. Highly recommend if you’re looking for real, lasting moisture.

I like a good cream moisturizer—classics like Instant Angel and Lait Creme Concentrate are my go to’s. Right now I’m trying Sonsie’s Multi Moisture Cream and will report back.

One organization to focus on this week:

What’s happening globally is beyond heartbreaking. Impact Iran is a coalition of 19 non-government groups advocating for human rights and Stand With Iran supports human rights activists and political prisoners. Please consider learning more about both.

Thanks for being here,

Robin

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based brand strategist and editorial director.

Join me on Instagram here. P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

Suddenly, it seemed, everyone was living on a set. They had bright, blank walls and ample natural light flooding their homes—spaces that were prime for content creation.

I’ve even seen some creators go so far as to rent separate apartments for their content. Now, this is no different from a photo set and could make sense for someone creating content full-time. A write-off ready ‘home’ that looks intimate but possesses the personal brand-right details necessary for filming? Bonus points for having a separate place to receive packages, and for the privacy.

This was just after those soulless, amenity-rich high rises began popping up anywhere they could. The multi-million million million dollar developments that gentrify the hell out of the world and make everywhere feel the same.

Did the increase in demand for a good filming spot with natural light and the supply of these big box buildings have anything to do with each other? “Not no.”

According to ElectrioIQ, 160+ million Americans identify as content creators of some kind, which means you could surmise that a certain percentage of the inhabitants of these apartments chose their spaces based on content needs.

The cause and effect is something I think about often—the connection between housing prices, aesthetics in the age of social media, and the rise of lifestyle curation. This is how trends work.

Image via Pinterest

While a character free white box will never be my style, I’m not much better.

We’re in the process of moving (my third time moving to Brooklyn, lol) and aside from wanting to find a place that felt right, I also wanted to find a place that looked right. The basis for our move is laundry (!!!), space, and an energy shift, but I’d be lying if I said ‘an opportunity to further my personal brand and create stronger content’ wasn’t entirely left out of the equation.

Before we started apartment hunting, I did the math.

Living in an aesthetically pleasing home with good natural light is a smart investment because of the content opportunities it could offer me and my partner, who is an actor and films self tapes at home. While that could be true, this same mindset could be applied to anything—clothing, cars, bags. But the fake-it-till-you-make-it of it all gets a little weird when it’s your home and a personal life you’re selling.

What happens when you live inside a place curated to reflect your lifestyle? If you’re not careful, the most intimate space easily becomes a trompe-l'œil instead of a home itself.

Image via Gotain

Put simply: This is my home, and it’s the stage on which my life plays out. And the part of my life that I act out on that stage, then choose to share, helps to pay the bills.

While privileged and absurd as a concept, the wants and needs are easily conflated, and without a strong idea of who you are and what you want, it can be a challenge.

Ultimately none of this is a problem if you’re being genuine to yourself and your taste level, which I am. We were lucky enough to find a wonderful dream apartment with great landlords that checked all the boxes and more, and we’re so excited.

I think me, and my personal brand, will be very happy there. I can’t wait to share.

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What I’m wearing and why:

Crisp blue shirts, as always (or, thrift a men’s shirt and get it dry cleaned). Earrings with just enough personality. Striped long-sleeved tees. A wonderfully sized carry-on for spring travel. Shades of green. This bag I’m somehow still thinking about. Simple sandals to pair with trousers and a cotton sweater until it’s warmer. An artful clutch to elevate. Obviously Blazy Chanel.

Image via Pinterest

Three beauty products I’m using right now:

I happened upon the store that sells this soap on my recent trip to Paris. (A great Buly alt, FYI.) The packaging? Gorgeous. The scent? Divine. Let’s see if I have it in me to use it.

A fellow skincare-loving friend gifted me classic Skinceuticals Vitamin C E for my birthday and I’m loving it as much as she promised. A good bet if you’re in the market for new vitamin C.

There are few things I love more than a) moisturizing and b) good packaging. The Body Creme by Mienne checks both boxes—rich and creamy with a delicious smell. Comes in a stunning red box and will look v. sexy in your bathroom.

One organization to focus on this week:

If you’re up for it, please consider a small donation to this Go Fund Me, which was created for a wonderful former classmate of mine. He passed away unexpectedly and far, far too soon, and was one of those people who was truly the best of us.

Thanks for being here,

Robin

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based brand strategist and editorial director.

Join me on Instagram here. P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

For me, that’s Vanessa Krooss. Vanessa has two black cats and a husband named Maguire. She lives in Brooklyn and has long, red hair. She’s also the head of brand at MERIT and is cool and interesting and witchy in all the right ways.

Without further ado:

How do we know each other?

I remember us giggling at a brand event where someone accidentally spilled red wine on me. You have such a warm and generous vibe but also are very very funny, so there was that immediate "ohhh I like this girl!" feeling.

Where do you live? what’s your profession?

I am a Park Slope devotee and have lived here the whole time I’ve been in New York. It’s quiet and a bit inconvenient, but that’s exactly what I like about it. On the job front, I lead brand marketing at MERIT, which means I touch everything from collaborations to events to community to our broader storytelling. I love my job, which I know is a rarity and something I try to never take for granted.

You have a weekend with no plans. What are you doing with it?

I’m a reformed early morning person. I’ve spent the last year training myself to sleep in past 6am, but I still like to get up on the earlier side. In a futile attempt to heal my digitally-addled brain, I’ve rediscovered my love of jigsaw puzzles, so I would put on some music, make myself a matcha, and chip away at the puzzle that’s currently taken over our entire coffee table. I then would take myself to my usual barre class in Cobble Hill, grab a breakfast wrap from Poppy’s, and read my book in the sun.

Lest you think I’m too wholesome, the second half of my perfect weekend day would involve a fair amount of buying things I don’t need from little shops, consuming wine, and general silliness with my friends, capped off by a dinner party that someone other than me is hosting.

An item you’re coveting (or, something you recently bought and liked).

Most of my winter wardrobe in New York tends to be black or grey, so I’ve been having a lot of fun with colorful accessories. I bought this Etro scarf on eBay that makes me happy every time I wear it, and have been coveting the long cashmere gloves from Comme Si in the most perfect teal-y blue. They would cure my seasonal depression, I just know it!

Something you think the world needs right now.

Ooof where to start. It’s a weird time to work in fashion or beauty, because it can all feel so frivolous in the face of so much injustice and terror. I really loved Mandy Lee’s recent video, where she talked about design and beautiful things as “pockets of escapism and hope”, so I do believe that continuing to be creative has value even now. That being said, the world also needs privileged people to speak out and support mutual aid programs—there’s a great list of grassroots organizations working in Minnesota here if you’re looking for somewhere to start.

Thanks Vanessa! Follow her here.

And also—

Thanks for being here,

Robin

Subscribe now

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based marketing consultant and editor. Join me on Instagram here, learn more about my business here.

P.S. Portions of this interview were edited for context and clarity. Some of the products featured in my newsletters are gifted. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

In the spirit of winter, and in hopes of bringing some lightness to a dark world, here are a few things worth checking out.

• A donation to ACLU Minneapolis: First things first because good god how lucky are we to even have the resources and safety to consider these eight other items.

• A good book: I checked out Natalia Theodoridou’s “Sour Cherry” from the library and it’s checking all the boxes—feminist, spooky, a little weird and dreamy. Nothing calms my nervous system like reading (even if it’s on the subway while I’m commuting).

• A lip mask: Because it’s cold and dry almost everywhere, and this one from LA-based MAKE is a long-standing favorite.

• A good leather jacket: For the not-so-distant days where a jacket and sweater will suffice. I just ordered this one from Nour Hammour to try (and maybe return). Also adore these from TWP and Saint Laurent.

• A good tea: Nothing feels more sacred than a hot cup of tea. I’m particularly drawn to herbal in winter to revel in the still of it all (and balance out the copious amounts of coffee I drink.)

• A pink sweater: A sweet look forward to spring to lighten the mood.

• A vintage hat: So many good pillbox and faux/vintage fur options. Good prices, supporting an independent seller, what’s not to love?

• A meditation course: I recently tried Benshen and it’s been great. Nothing like manifesting/being a witch on a cold winter’s day.

• A tarot deck: My first! New hobby alert.

Thanks for being here,

Robin

P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

In the end, it’s always the people that make the job/city/day worth it. We all say it, but it’s true. I’m so lucky and proud of my community that I want everyone to know and appreciate these women as much as I do.

Without further ado:

Alex DiCapo Patel (aka @dicaprioooo aka author of the best best)

How do we know each other?

Am I allowed to name drop? The short answer is mutual friends. The longer (and better) version is that Libby Strachan, who I met while living in LA, introduced me to Natalie Cantell and Taylor Kelly. Which eventually led me to you, after far too long of us wondering how we hadn’t already met.

Where do you live? What’s your profession?

I live in Brooklyn, NY (Williamsburg to be exact) and head up community and partnerships at Argent. By night (normally at 6am) I write the best best, a weekly newsletter where I share the pieces, places, and things that I’m currently loving, coveting, and fixating on.

You have a weekend with no plans. What are you doing with it?

One morning would be reserved for no plans at all. A slow start to the day, maybe with no alarm set? A thrill! Time to write a little, take a long walk, get a nice coffee, and enjoy the luxury of having nowhere to be.

Then I love exploring a new neighborhood, or returning to one I haven’t visited in awhile. Aimlessly wandering into stores, trying a new restaurant or yummy bite from a place I’ve saved but never had a chance to visit, and definitely indulging in a sandwich/bagel or baked good at some point.

An item you’re coveting (or, something you recently bought and liked):

I am currently obsessed with zebra, and I recently came across the Khaite Nye Shoulder Bag and fell in love. I don’t currently own any items from Khaite, and I am not about to spend $2,100 on this bag, but it’s something to think about. I’m also thinking a lot about this Long Fruit Bowl.

Something you think the world needs right now.

I really hope we can remember that there are real people behind the screens, and find a way to disengage from hateful rhetoric and lead with a little more care and humanity. I do have hope we will get there, because we’re resilient people!

Thank you, Alex! You’re the best (best)!

And also—

Thanks for being here,

Robin

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Robin Reetz is an NYC-based marketing consultant and editor. Join me on Instagram here, learn more about my business here.

P.S. Portions of this interview were edited for context and clarity. Some of the products featured in my newsletters are gifted. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

Not the buzzword version, but the real, often uncomfortable act of speaking up for yourself and naming what you deserve. Of saying the thing out loud and of deciding, at a certain point, to stop spending your time/energy/trust/money on people/companies/doctors/systems that don’t truly take you seriously.

Self-advocacy shows up everywhere: in how we’re paid, how we’re treated, how our time is valued, and how our health is handled. And more often than not, no one is going to ask on your behalf. You have to do it yourself. (Giant pain, I know.)

Like many of us, this lesson has presented itself to me on repeat over the years. For most of my career, I worked in corporate fashion at brands and publications you know the names of. In that time, I saw a lot of people not getting promoted after years of work, even if they deserved it. That was the norm. At one company, it was known that the only way to get a title change was to obtain a counter offer from a competing brand who would give you a better title. That was sort of a nasty form of self advocacy, and may I add not a very productive one for, well, anyone involved.

Going off on my own meant learning a thing or two about my worth. I’ve found that determining said worth comes in lots of different forms that go far beyond the fee itself. What we’re talking about is currency, which is more than a number.

One type of currency is dollars. Another type of currency is time saved. Another is values alignment, and another is lack of stress.

Some projects require a higher fee because they will demand more strategic thinking, experience, or emotional output. Other times, I’m comfortable taking a lower fee because I’m passionate about the project or I know it will provide low stress work. My anxiety levels and flexibility, just like my time, are valuable currency.

Then there’s the type of currency with the greatest value of all: our health.

More than one person I loved suffered under the U.S. healthcare system last year, and of course they were among millions. They experienced severe health events that put them in dire positions of self-advocacy. The consequences were both serious and everlasting.

When it comes to women’s health, of course it’s a million times worse. Women were rarely included in clinical trials until 1993 aka after I was born. What I learned from the horror of 2025 is that if something feels wrong, it’s critical to knock down every door until your find someone who will listen. Easier said than done, since we are talking about the medical system and resourcing. But if our health is our most important currency, then it’s critical that we advocate for it above all else

My mom recently said “we are not settling anymore” and while I think the conversation was about my desire for a washing machine (lol), the subtext was of course greater.

That’s what I’m living by this year. No more mediocrity, no more excuses. Just fighting for myself, every single day. Join me?

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What I’m wearing and why:

Vintage (-inspired) hats. Roomy jeans. V-neck sweaters. Long-sleeve shirts. Cozy shoes. Lady bags. Sturdy totes. Pretty jewelry. Brooches, pins, tassels. Good sunglasses.

Image via shop vintage collection

Three beauty products I’m using right now:

My holiday trip to Atlanta included a visit to Bella Cucina where I picked up this Extra Virgin Oil/Beeswax Face and Body Cream. Can I tell you that this is a perfect traveling product? I used it as a face, body, and hand moisturizer and it was perfect. If you’re in Atlanta, do yourself a favor and stop by Bella Cucina, then try not to buy literally everything.

Another thing I tried recently and loved is Merit’s The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen. Goes on so smooth and adds just the slightest bit of coverage. Don’t sleep on it.

Hand cream, on repeat, for the driest months of the year.

Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45 ($38), Bella Cucina Face & Body Cream ($32), Frama Hand Cream ($45)

One organization to focus on this week:

Support for Renee Good’s wife and son. And always and forever, the ACLU.

Thanks for being here,

Robin

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based brand strategist and editorial director.

Join me on Instagram here. P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

Experiences are the gift of all gifts—the things we remember the most and that require the most time and planning. And this is exactly why we don’t do them. It’s so much easier to buy a thing, and as much as I love things (and I LOVE things), there is something to be said for a gesture instead of an item.

Here’s a few I’ve given or received over the years (as well as a link to an actual guide if you truly can’t get enough).

After Midnight Vintage Danish Teak Candelabra

• A coffee date—and a book: A friend once took me to a tea house for my birthday and gave me a copy of Rilke’s “Letters to a Young Poet”. We had a lovely afternoon, then had the gift of discussing the book for months after. A book loved by another is a top gift to receive, because of the ongoing connection and conversation it creates. (This book was given to me for my birthday last month, and I loved it.)

• Gift card to a fancy grocery or home store: In my 20s, I asked for a gift to a nice grocery store and it gave me more joy than you might expect. There’s something about a gift card that gives you ‘permission’ to buy all the fancy, unnecessary things you want but don’t need which is fun and exciting—even at a grocery store.

• The gift of practicality: Make an appointment that a loved one has been putting off, then take them to a fun lunch after. Offer to run a friend’s errands for a week—take their stuff to the dry cleaners, drop off their returns, change their oil. Carrying the load of life’s pesky tasks goes far, especially during the holidays.

• A plan for the future: Give kids money, in a way they can’t touch now but will appreciate later. They might seem bored by it now, but you’re giving them the freedom of choice and stability in the future. (Of course, make sure this gift is in the form of a solid investment or a high-yield account of some kind.)

• A vintage (or pre-owned) accessory or item: This is technically a thing and not an experience, but this gift shows that you did the work of searching and noting their style which is really, really special and shows someone how much you know them.

• A floral subscription: Like my fancy home/grocery store gift card idea, some of the best gifts are things that people would absolutely want but may not ‘allow’ themselves to have. Like a floral subscription.

• A party (or small gathering): Surprise a friend or loved one with a gathering of their nearest and dearest. A party is great, but it can be as simple as dessert with a few friends. All we really want is unencumbered time together, in the end.

• Donations: In their name, to causes they really care about. The more local, niche, and specific the better.

• Take a class together: Learn something new together. Look at language or pottery or quilting or painting, etc. classes in your area and go together.

  ---

  And finally, if you really need things, here are a few gifts worth giving.

  

Thanks for being here,

Robin

P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

Sharing some unsexy tips on staying warm below followed by a few outfit formulas (because who doesn’t need a little inspo when the sun sets at 4pm.)

1. Always wear real winter fabrics (wool and cashmere even if they’re blends). Do the same when it comes to socks. Cotton-poly crew socks will do absolutely nothing for you in on a damp February day.

2. Stock up on Hot Hands and don’t leave home without them.

3. Take the extras, like hats and heat tech, seriously. Wear leggings under your jeans or pants whenever possible, even if it’s not THAT cold. It helps you wear a lighter, more balanced jacket and makes being outside bearable.

   Now, a few outfits:

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Chill Holiday Drinks

The Formula: Bare Legs + Warm Sweater + Boots

With or without tights, an exposed leg in winter means a warm everything else is imperative. Layer your sweater, keep your coat long, then finish with good boots and hand warmers. Depending on the weather and the wind (the wind) you may want to take a cab. But you’ll look cute, so, it’s worth it.

DL1961 Lunne Sweater ($259), Larroude Anne Boot ($368), Lisa Yang Mini skirt ($555), Paloma Wool Riba Zip Bag ($595), ThredUp Clutch ($11), Thrifted Sunglasses

Background image via Pinterest

A Nice Night Out

The Formula: Long Coat + Heels + Socks

A long coat will get you far. Opt for something that looks great and keeps you warm, then wear it as your whole outfit. Make sure the shoes are a little nicer for contrast, and pair with dress socks for comfort and interest.

Sezane Jefferson Coat ($430), The Row Liisa Kitten Heels ($990), The Row Dalia Baguette Bag (an insanely generous birthday gift), Dress Socks ($10), Thrifted Sunglasses

Background image via Pinterest

An Interesting, Everyday Look

The Formula: Dress Pants + Sweater + Sneakers

For a lot of winter, I’m in dress pants. They’re usually wool or cashmere and almost always lined for extra comfort in a perfect storm of tailoring and warmth.

Below, I’m wearing an amazing Paloma Wool pair I bought myself for my birthday, but for years prior I’ve worn men’s dress pants (can be easily thrifted) for an oversized look. Add a cozy little sweater—this one is absurdly soft brushed alpaca from Japanese label, Sayaka Davis—and some cool sneakers, and you’ll look stylish with very little effort.

Sayaka Davis Compact Knit Polo ($375), Paloma Wool Andrale Pants ($360), Riba Zip Bag ($595), Dries Van Noten Suede Sneakers ($585)

Background image via Pinterest

A Weeknight Dinner:

The Formula: V-Neck Sweater + Jeans + Heels

Easy with impact. Wear a long sleeve shirt underneath during the day for a 90s feel, then lose it for evening. (Unless it’s really cold—then, keep it.)

Loeffler Randall Molly Workwear Jean ($225), Gap Oversized V-Neck Sweater ($55), Ruti Croc Belt ($120), The Row Liisa Kitten Heels ($990)

Background image via Pinterest

Reality Check:

The Formula: Oversized Button-Down + Jeans + Flats

Most winter days, you’ll catch me in some form of this outfit. It’s how I feel most comfortable, allows for easy layering, and it always looks chic (at least in my head).

Alex Mill Carla High-Rise Straight Jean ($225), Buck Mason Mainstay Cotton Shirt ($148), Madewell 90s Long-Sleeve Tee ($55), Either/OR Mule ($232), Sezane Amiel Sweater ($170)

Background image via Pinterest

Thanks for being here,

Robin

Subscribe now

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based marketing consultant and editor. Join me on Instagram here, learn more about my business here.

P.S. Some of the products featured in my newsletters are gifted. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

My recent post on money in New York struck a chord with many. It feels crass to talk about finances right now when so many have so little, but it’s a topic that impacts us all in every aspect of our lives.

Related to consumer spending, this stat via tariro makoni is incredible:

In my past roles in corporate fashion, the gap between women’s direct influence on the market and the way our opinions were treated internally used to infuriate me, to say the least. So often the women weren’t being listened to despite the fact that professionally, they made up the teams doing the day-to-day executionary work of the business. Personally, they did the shopping for themselves and their families. Wild yet not at all surprising that women are so discredited when they quite literally run the economy.

With consumerism in mind (and for the sake of joy in things when the world can be so dark), sharing a few things that in addition to my lovely friends and family, have brought me solace, albeit material, recently:

• Alessi Stovetop Coffeemaker: Cold weather means a return to hot coffee and man, I missed my moka pot in the warmer months. It makes good coffee which is my #1 priority in life.

• DONA Chai: Not a coffee drinker? Try this cozy chai concentrate. (Female-founded, Brooklyn-based, really delicious.)

• MERIT Solo Shadow—The Sheens: Eyeshadow for non-eyeshadow people, with the perfect amount of subtle sheen and color. The shades Iris and Glacé are beautiful.

• ICHENDORF Milano Deco Water Glass Set: A dear friend got me these for my birthday and I love them. Thin but sturdy glass with the perfect amount of whimsy.

• Ideal holiday shoes.

• Still Here Madison Button Down: Who knew the button down could be reinvented? This shirt has been on my wishlist for weeks (longer?) which means that I have permission to buy it now. I don’t make the rules (I do).

• A really great pair of socks makes the perfect gift for you or anyone else: My favorites come from Le Bon Shoppe, Uniqlo, and good ol’ Lands End.

• Digestive Enzymes: Like all cool girls, I (used to) have digestive issues. My functional medicine doctor recommended these for everyday use and, along with other small dietary changes, my stomach is better than ever. For a quick fix, I love papaya enzymes.

• Do I need a hat for the holiday season? Maybe.

Thanks for being here,

Robin

P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

Skirts are easy and feminine, but I feel most myself in a solid pair of pants with something simple on top.

Men’s dress pants, button-downs, and sweaters get me through New York’s long, arduous winters. Warmth, practicality, and a good coat (with as much style incorporated as possible) is key.

For months (years) our silhouettes have been baggy and while that’s not a trend I’ll ever grow out of, a more fitted silhouette does feels appealing.

The Wrangler Cowboy Cut Slim Fit Jean—$54 on their site, but seen as low as $21—has sufficiently scratched this itch. Classic but still interesting, comfortable with a nice wash and a cool name. The sizing threw me for a loop but once I figured that out, I was pleased with the result.

If the Wrangler’s aren’t your thing, here’s a few more fitted denim styles that might be:

STILL HERE Childhood Jean ($260), La Ligne Mol High-Rise Straight Jean ($195)

Background image via Pinterest

Clockwise: Sezane Brut Sexy Jeans ($125), Alex Mill High-Rise Carla Straight Leg* ($225), KHAITE Abigail High-Rise Straight Leg** ($620), Levi’s 90s 501 Jeans ($98), AGOLDE 90s Pinch Waist Jeans ($208), Toteme High-Rise Straight Jeans ($390)

Background image via Pinterest

Wondering what to wear with your fitted jeans? Something relatively cropped on top to drive the point home.

Clockwise: Norba Zipped Anorak ($210), Le Bon Shoppe Babe Tee ($64), Porto’s The Pouch ($290), LESET Barb Bomber ($650), Cawley Leather Flying Jacket ($1550), Uniqlo PuffTech Short Blouson ($79.90), Eyland Noemi Bag ($260), Lisbon Sisters Tee ($35), SONYA LEE Half Maya Bag ($165), Jungmaven Cropped Ojai Tee ($46)

Background image via Pinterest

Clothes that fit? Groundbreaking, I know.

Finally, there’s something more to say here about femininity and fitted silhouettes and ownership, but we’ll tackle that another time.

Thanks for being here,

Robin

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*I have these and love the fit for an everyday jean; recommend sizing up for something that’s fitted but still roomy.

**Perfect for something a little sleeker; I chose my normal size.

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based marketing and editorial person.

Join me on Instagram here. P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.

Money didn’t used to be such a big deal.

Before big tech, big social, big billionaires (and soon-to-be trillionaires), it meant a lot to have a million dollars. Now it’s common, especially in major metropolitan cities like New York, where it’s estimated that 1 in every 24 residents is a millionaire.

Financial disparity is at an all-time high, the U.S. economy and government are being ransacked, money is on the minds of many, and for good reason.

It’s been on my mind since 2008, when I moved to New York. Mainly in the question of, “Why does everyone have it, and and where does it come from?”

In this town, money is everywhere. The juxtaposition between wealth and poverty are extreme, happening in close proximity to each other at all times. The sidewalk is our great equalizer, where some of the world’s wealthiest people stride next to those barely making it by. We walk side by side, then we go into our respective buildings and live radically different lives.

Image via Pinterest

The financial learning curve is steep in New York City, and my first lesson took place in the halls of Conde Nast. During an internship at Vogue, I found myself fascinated by the handbags of my fellow interns. They all had luxury bags, some had duplex apartments. Was I spending irresponsibly? I assumed the answer was yes, because how else were unpaid interns affording bags that cost thousands of dollars?

It soon became clear that many of my fellow interns’ families knew each other, which I thought was a cool coincidence. “Wow, small world!” I’d say. Then came the discovery that everyone knew how to ski and used “summer” as a verb. Still, generational wealth never even crossed my mind.

Image via LIÉ STUDIO

During my first job, also at Conde Nast, I lived in a wonderful studio apartment I was graciously grandfathered into by my professor. Even with a mate’s rate and working full time, the apartment and my bills were supplemented in large part by my parents thanks to my $25k salary. (A salary I should be “grateful for”, I was told by the company, even though I couldn’t pay my bills.)

Still, with my parents helping me fulfill basic needs to pursue my dreams, I never thought others could somehow receive more. I knew I was privileged, and thought it ended there.

“Show me the spreadsheet!” my friends and I would say, referencing the financial details of those with fancier apartments and (much) better bags than us. We wondered how people could afford certain things and we couldn’t. From assuming I wasn’t saving properly, or that I should be working harder, spending less on my (walk-up) apartments. What were they doing that I wasn’t?

Image via Pinterest

In a city where things are this expensive, having a fancy job gets you a moderately comfortable life, but not necessarily a fancy life. Maybe that’s why it’s always fascinated me—how could I be so privileged but still have so much less?

In my 30s, I paid off the debt I acquired in college and in my 20s. This meant I had no debt but I also had no savings.

I started working with an all-female financial advisement team who helped me get my finances in shape. They made me realize that my life was just that—MY life. I earned what I earned and I wanted certain things, but there were plenty of other things I didn’t want. Through my work with them, I learned that just because you see someone with something doesn’t mean they can afford it, or that they bought it. Everyone has different ways of funding their lifestyles, and everyone has different approaches to how they spend and save their money—and it doesn’t reflect on you.

It’s only in the last five years or so that I’ve stopped comparing myself. Basically, I stopped caring. Because, in many cases, the truth about money in a city this extreme, is just that—case by case.

Many people here have generational wealth, many have high-paying careers. Others have come to their money through tragedy, in ways you would never wish on yourself.

Ultimately you don’t know, and now that I know that, I don’t consider it my business. As long as you aren’t exploiting others as a multi-billionaire, your money is your business.

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What I’m wearing and why:

Random odds and ends, including: an incredibly soft sweater, fall-friendly shorts, and two fancy pairs of shoes.

Sayaka Davis Compact Knit Polo ($375), Brooke Callahan Tie Shorts in Rice—also in capris and pants ($130)

EITHER/OR Demi Ballet Flats—with a sneaker insole ($290)

The Row Lisa Leather Pumps ($990)—similar here, here, and here

Three beauty products I’m using right now:

Celisse: A perfect solution for bare nail girls, Celisse is a new nail care line that’s easy to use and so, so chic. (The Full Set, $128)

Abel: I’ve tried a few of Abel’s scents and am currently hooked on Pause. The packaging is sublime, the scents are amazing, and the formula is all natural but wears like a luxury scent. Will be buying again and again. (Pause $220)

DAMDAM Silk Rice Cleansing Oil: Now available at Happier Grocery and Sephora, the product is good and (bonus) the team is lovely. I recently recommended the moisturizer, and now I’m back to recommend the cleansing oil.

Abel 100% Natural Fragrance in Pause ($220)—smaller sizes available for $60, CELISSE The Full Set ($128), DAMDAM Silk Rice Cleansing Oil ($46)

One organization to focus on this week:

Sulala Animal Rescue focuses on helping stray animals in Gaza. The very thought is heartbreaking. Please support if you can.

Thanks for being here,

Robin

Robin Reetz is an NYC-based marketing and editorial person.

Join me on Instagram here. P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.