It’s been two weeks since I sent out a Digest, and on that Tuesday I wrote about how the vibes were feeling… bad. In the two weeks that have since passed, the retrograde and whatever other terrors the planets inflicted upon us have really been getting to me. I’ve been beyond tired and uninspired - and from what I’ve heard from my friends IRL + online, it wasn’t just me. So while I’m still working up to being 100%, we’re back baby. Without further ado, The Digest 03 ✨
Throughout the week when I see something I would send to someone who liked the same things as me, I add it to a collection in my notes app, and that collection eventually becomes The Digest. Enjoy your curated morning paper, ideally with coffee in hand and a soothing morning playlist on in the background.
x Jo
I might be late to the party on a few of these things after being MIA, but we still needed to talk about them!
Dating app culture may be dying, but Hinge was smart to capitalize on print media’s nostalgic resurgence + the allure of booktok with their new zine, available IRL in NYC + London. Feels fresh and of the moment!!
MAJOR news: Clinton and Stacy are BACK. I knew this day would come. This antithetical answer to What Not To Wear is a study in the (topical) culture shift of the last decade
Speaking of reviving problematic early 2000s media, what do we think about the upcoming VS fashion show reboot? I left my complicated feelings in a comment on this post
August is almost over, but it’s Women in Translation month and the book Butter by Asako Yusuki is my top pick (“a novel of food and murder”)
Everyone and their mother is talking about David Protein but I predict this brand will be a carnival of red flag rhetoric
Another big week for sports seeping into every aspect of pop culture
I CANNOT WAIT to watch this new Hulu show starring two of my faves about a “broke, fat, Black JFK Airport employee who’s never been in love”
As coat season approaches, I’m eyeing this unique trench from ASOS
We are obsessed with toys right now. Are playful trends like bag charms + charm bracelets + summer camp jewelry and the prevalence of Barbie / Polly Pocket / Sonny Angels an answer to how the world is terrifyingly anything but whimsical these days?
The best literary fiction books of the year, according to Elle. Maybe not all best *or* even lit fic, though, imo
On a similar note: Recently one of my close friends highly recommended I read The Safekeep, already on my TBR. Elle interviewed the author here (“a gothic horror set in the dutch countryside”)
It’s the age of method dressing for movie stars on press tours, and I particularly loved this look from Jenna Ortega on the Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice press circuit. The tights!
I’m an OG megafan of the band MUNA, so I immediately knew Katie + Josette (2/3 of the band) wrote this Maren Morris song on her new EP which has been on repeat
In that vein, we’ve seen musicians heavily lean into queer + country roots this year. I’m unsurprised to see Allison Ponthier entering the scene more prominently
Is this a safe place to admit I’ve never watched Emily In Paris??
I’ve seen two wide calf boot collections drop this week, but only this one from Dolce Vita actually featured visibly plus models in its campaign
Based on trend + versatility, I’d recommend a slim sneaker, a printed pointed toe kitten heel / mule, and a square toe ballet flat (LOVE the light blue too) to cover all your shoe needs this fall
I’ve been dying to chat with you about Sneex (shoes from the founder of Spanx). I need to know your thoughts - the internet is surprisingly divided
“Wake up babe they Warby Parkered the funeral home”
“The progress we made is the first thing sacrificed for the bottom line.” - Roxane Gay for the NYT on diversity in the publishing industry
Fragrance is the current leading category in beauty, and the next wave is cocktail inspired
Shrimp cocktail + dirty martinis are two of my favorite things in the whole world, so I’m enticed by this combination situation
I know the streaming war is a hot topic these days but I didn’t expect to see Chick-Fil-A crop up in this entertainment conversation
This feels like a real life Andy Weir novel and I hope they get home soon + safe
Old Navy has a long history of disappointing its plus size consumers. This week they were back at it (with a cameo from yours truly)
… and listen, I’m a frequent ON shopper - my options are limited! This dress is one of the best things I’ve bought all year. Doesn’t mean we can’t challenge them to be better
I’m noticing an uptick in content about hair transplants for men
I was shocked to see this article titled “Are Bookstores Just a Waste of Space?” - other recent reporting has all been pointing to the opposite
“The last place any fictional character should want to be these days is a private getaway owned by an eccentric billionaire” - on the movie Blink Twice - who’s watched?? Do you recommend?
Another beauty brand aging down their marketing + packaging to appeal to Gen Z
Skipping + scrubbing through videos makes you more bored. Plus, content creators are leaning into unedited content to aid in that very digital burnout + overstimulation
I’m extremely interested in how brands are leveraging Roblox to cater to younger consumers - a growing trend that has potential for murky ethics, in my opinion
~Some listening suggestions for your week~
That’s all for this week! If something in particular caught your eye in this send, drop it in the comments so I can continue to evolve this space in the right direction for you. Being an engaged subscriber is the best compliment you can give me.
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Thanks for sharing How to Die Alone. I had not heard of the show but it sounds awesome. I'll definitely be watching!