The Hardest Thing to Shop For?

Hi friend,

This week, we went shopping for good jeans (and found a bunch!). It’s a seemingly simple task, but landing on the right pair can be a challenge. The styles that may have felt right five or ten years ago don’t always look right when you pull them out again. Maybe it’s passing trends, or maybe it’s us. We’ve changed.

Fashion can be fun, but when your vision doesn’t match what’s in the mirror, it’s really not. Even fashion people aren’t immune to this. That’s one of the takeaways from a long piece from fashion critic Cathy Horyn about trying to nail her personal style after a lifetime spent immersed in the fashion world. This moment, during a fitting with the designers of Proenza Schouler, was relatable despite the context:

“All I wanted was this chic black pantsuit. I could picture myself walking down the street in it, tall and languorous…Yet as the tape began to go round my body, my enthusiasm evaporated like a mirage. For I realized in that awful second that I had entered the fitting room without an image of myself. Or, let’s say, I didn’t like the image I saw: a frumpy woman at 66 with a bad haircut.”

What do women want? We want clothes that fit, that look good (for Cathy, that ends up being a custom-made suit). According to star Gillian Anderson, we also want for pleasure. That wanting led to her new book, Want: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous, which collects letters depicting women’s private sexual desires. As she says, “what is the point of this complex, torturous existence that we find ourselves in as human beings if there can’t be an element of joy and pleasure?”

Indeed!
Your friends at Gloria

PS: Congrats to the winners of our Reader Survey gift-card giveaway: Heather Z., Ava M. and Shawna B. And thank you again to everyone who shared their thoughts with us.

Fall means a lot of things. The brief return of jackets, for instance. A remembered appreciation for wool. Plaids. Jewel tones. And jeans. This fall, we’re happy to tell you that bootcut/flare shapes are back – just look at these (perfect, but pricey) Jamie Haller ones, which are already almost sold out. Skinny’s back, too; not legging-like styles, just a slimmer leg. Confusingly, baggy and slouchy styles are also still popular. And dark wash, like this from Cos, which feels more polished than lighter-rinse versions. There are clearly plenty of directions to go in; we sorted through them to find 13 cute, easy-wearing pairs.

• These are such a winner; like a vintage pair with a bit of stretch for a just-right fit. Alex Mill The Carla High-Rise Straight, $225. Waist size 24 to 33.

• This is the new skinny, which still feels sophisticated and pairs easily with flats. Banana Republic The Slim Jean, $66. Waist size 24 to 35.

• These sit right at the waist, and have a bit of volume/flare, but aren’t too much. Mother The Twister Sneak Jeans, $238. Waist size 24 to 32.

• A fun twist on the extremely popular style. Levi’s Ribcage Wide-Leg, $98. Waist size 23 to 34.

• The upturned hem is appealing. Agolde Dame Jeans, $258. Waist size 23 to 34.

• The perfect slouchy jeans are a hard thing to nail, but these look very promising. Dissh Reagan Slouchy Jean, $150. Size 2 to 12.

• The patch pockets make this cute style. Gap High-Rise Stride Jean, $71. Waist size 24 to 35.

• Just simple and easy. Ayr The Secret Sauce, $245. Waist size 24 to 34.

• A very solid option for the price. Universal Thread High-Rise Flare Jeans, $28. Size 00 to 30.

• These look very cool. Citizens of Humanity Gwendoline Scrunch Jean, $298. Waist size 23 to 31.

• We saw these in store and they looked great. J.Crew Sailor Denim Trouser, $158. Waist size 23 to 37.

• Denim trends come and go, but the appeal of this slim style endures. Frame Le Sleek Straight, $258. Waist size 23 to 34.

• This flare would be too much in a light wash, but it works in this dark rinse. Mango Violet High-Rise Flared Jeans, $70. Size 1 to 14.

Shop the Story

What’s surprising about this list of Amazon Prime perks is just how many of them we were unaware of. The guide details 10 member benefits that more people should know about (it’s from a website entirely focused on consumer deals and savings). We have to say: It’s genuinely helpful! Click through for all the information. #partner

TO READ Two big, compelling books hit shelves today. There’s Lauren Elkin’s Scaffolding, an “erudite first novel with horny energy” (per this positive Guardian review) about two couples’ adulterous sex lives. And there’s Rumaan Alam’s (of bombshell literary thriller Leave the World Behind fame) new book Entitlement, which charts how a job helping a billionaire with his philanthropy efforts transforms a young woman in a sort of Tom Ripley-esque way.

TO LISTEN You can become so accustomed to the presence of something that can you forget there was a time before it existed. Like with Fox News, whose rise is chronicled on the new season of the Slow Burn podcast.

TO WATCH In the new coming-of-age film My Old Ass, a teenager meets her middle-aged self (played by Aubry Plaza) during a mushroom trip. Even more shocking than the time-travel detail is how she proceeds to follow her older self’s advice. Though the title is silly, the execution is honestly pretty deep and emotionally resonant. It’s out in theaters.

TO TRY We recently rediscovered the power of this little potted cream bronzer, which is so easy to apply (just use your fingertips) and makes you look like you got some sun, even if you hid from it all summer. In our experience, one pot can last a very long time.

TO STREAM We’re not exactly Marvel types, but we are going to give the new Disney+ series Agatha All Along a shot. The cast looks great (Kathryn Hahn, Patti LuPone, Aubrey Plaza) and it’s something we can watch with our tween. We’re also curious about Rebel Ridge, the new Netflix action film about civil asset forfeiture that Stephen King recently called a “thinking man’s Rambo.”

Old Navy has reissued some of its styles from 1994, and we like this jacket. • Speaking of 1994, experts look back at the complicated legacy of the 1994 crime bill. • This love story is a very long, but very worth-it read. • Can’t believe that the concept of “trimesters” in pregnancy is entirely made up. • Sobriety, and the power of finding the right recovery community. • This moment from Candice Bergen’s Emmy speech – so good!

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