Nostalgia, or Something Else?

Hi friend,

“We used to have one of these every winter growing up,” said a friend about the snowstorm that rolled through this weekend.

This much snow has an interesting effect on the psyche. It’s at once thrilling and unnerving. Your neighborhood feels smaller and the world around you quieter. People pile in to the few neighborhood spots that remain open. They shovel each others’ sidewalks. Kids tromp to the nearest hill for the rare opportunity to sled, or go from house to house, offering to shovel (for a fee that seems wildly inflationary). Afterwards, maybe there’s a round of hot chocolate.

It all feels so retro: the kids, suddenly visible and able to safely range around the car-free streets; the friendliness; the consumption of milk-based beverages.

If there’s one pervading mood right now, aside from anger and fear, it’s nostalgia. But we can’t settle on how far back we wish to go. 2016? 1776, or the 1950s, or the fictional time and space inhabited by The Brady Bunch? Just not now. Anywhere but now, when our government is treating American cities like hostile territories; where we’re watching people be shot dead at point-blank range.

Perhaps, then, a future state? That’s the dream in San Francisco, where tech reporter Kevin Roose and his cohort are “putting multi-agent claudeswarms in charge of their lives, consulting chatbots before every decision, wireheading to a degree only sci-fi writers dared to imagine.”

While the tech set embraces future-focused optimism (Elon Musk: The future is going to be AMAZING with AI and robots enabling sustainable ABUNDANCE for all!), and conservative think tanks look backward for inspiration, the rest of us are mired in an unstable present. Like in Minneapolis, where residents are struggling through what The Atlantic calls the “American Winter.”

“At times,” writes Robert F. Worth, “Minneapolis reminded me of what I saw during the Arab Spring in 2011, a series of street clashes between protesters and police that quickly swelled into a much larger struggle against autocracy.”

These aren’t “Somali fraud-loving Antifa Karens” (though that sounds exciting), but rather parents, faith leaders, teachers, elderly suburbanites, and others who “did not seem like typical protest types” standing up. Worth spoke with one couple in their 70s who became involved in protesting when they realized their grandchildren might see and be scarred by the violence of the immigration raids. “Dan and Jane resisted the idea that they had become political,” he says. “A better word, Jane said, was humanist.”

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

There’s really never a bad time for stripes. But they’re really shining right now, on sweaters and pants and accessories, in all sort of thicknesses and color combinations. Below, a few of our current faves.

• This color combo is good. Madewell Rugby Polo Shirt, $60. Size XXS to 3XL.

• So fun, and on sale. Loeffler Randall Venus Track Pant, $135. Size XXS to XL.

• A bit of shine fancies up a striped polo top. Sandro Striped Rhinestone Polo, $125. Size XS to XL.

• We like the sporty feel of the side stripe. Mango Wide-Leg Trousers With Contrast Stripe, $70. Size 0 to 10.

• Comfy and cute. J.Crew 2025 Rollneck Sweater, $118. Size XXXS to 3XL.

• A classic look. Alex Mill Marseille Striped Boatneck Tee, $62.50. Size XS to XL.

• Highlighter brights are appealing on luxe cashmere scarf. Ann Mashburn Cashmere Scarf, $97.50.

• An interesting green option. Banana Republic Lightweight Cashmere Crew-Neck Sweater, $160. Size XXS to XXL.

• Adorable. Sézane Le Crop Pants, $135. Size 2 to 14.

• Simple but cool. Cos 24/7 Long-Sleeved T-Shirt, $45. Size XS to XL.

• Love the soft pastels of this cashmere rugby. Guest in Residence Cropped Stripe Cashmere Rugby, $223. Size XS, L, XL.

• Basics with a twist. Uniqlo Crew Socks, $12.90 for three.

• A chic pajama set for a decent price. Aritzia Laze Poplin Pajama Pant and Shirt, $34 apiece. Size 2XS to XL.

• Something about the striped version of this pretty blouse is really speaking to us. Dôen Henri Lace-Trimmed Ruffled Pintucked Striped Organic Cotton Voile Top, $250. Size XXS to XXL.

• The kind of slippers we envision a very fabulous older lady wearing. Armor Lux Wool Slippers, $89.

• A intriguing combo of dark denim, thin stripes, and easy fit. Reformation Cary Low-Rise Slouchy Wide-Leg Jean, $198. Waist size 23 to 34.

• The bright purple of this sweater really pops. Me + Em Stripe Straight Sweater, $275. Size XXS to XL.

Shop the Story

TO READ We were able to preview The Big M, a compilation of essays about menopause, and there is a lot to enjoy — particularly the piece from Cheryl Strayed. It’s out now; you can find it here on Bookshop, and here on Amazon.

TO RENT We’re in that weird end-of-season window where we’re trying not to buy anything new, but still want a few fresh pieces to get through the rest of winter. Armoire makes it easy. You rotate in great clothes from brands you already love, and they build a personalized closet based on your style (with help from real stylists). It keeps getting dressed feeling fun, without the panic shopping. Use code GLORIA for up to 60 percent off your first month plus two bonus items, and the unlimited plan is $99 right now. #partner

TO LISTEN Thanks to TV critic Emily Nussbaum, we now know the name Gertrude Berg, and the story of television's first sitcom. Berg’s extremely popular show, The Goldbergs, was dropped by CBS after one of its stars was tarred by McCarthy-era blacklisting. It was replaced by a show you’ve probably heard of: I Love Lucy.

TO WEAR These have easily become our favorite new workout pants (we reach for them first after laundry day). They’re perfect for workouts and errands: ridiculously soft and comfortable, but still supportive, offering that held-in feeling like a true compression tight. Pair them with this tee for a simple, sexy look. #partner

TO MAKE Strictly for work purposes, we tested out this poppyseed yogurt cake over the weekend and it is easy and delicious (try it with a late-morning coffee or tea). Some additional pluses: no mixer or fancy equipment are required, and the list of ingredients needed is pretty short.

Bring back interesting towels! • A new serum? • A horny movie starring Olivia Wilde is coming. • Into the belly of America’s new gambling epidemic. • Another journalist decides to go on his own peptide-injecting journey.

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