A September Surprise

Surprise!

We’re popping into your inbox on a Tuesday with a brand-new look (courtesy of the lovely and talented Elizabeth Spiridakis Olson) and feel.

We also are trying out a new format, a new platform, and a new twice-a-week schedule that will give us more space for all of the things we’d like to write about. We hope this Tuesday letter can be a light start to your week; we’ll use this space to talk about shopping, as well as beauty. Fridays will be reserved for more newsy topics, as well as our reported features and interviews. Both will include a smattering of links to interesting articles from around the web as well as our recommendations, including new books, shows, podcasts, and more that are worth checking out.

For you today: animal print for fall (it’s hot now, but did it ever really leave?), two new books on our must-read list, and more! We’ll be back Friday.

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

Animal print never really goes out of style, but this fall it’s back in a big way. Magazines have been heralding its return since January, and we’ve started seeing more and more compelling options in the market. Below, we rounded up a few of our favorites — shoes, denim, dresses, and more.

• These are a real statement. Zara Wide-Leg Jeans, $49.90. Size 0 to 12.

• Like a classic Birk, but cooler and more distinctive. Brother Vellies Greg Shoe, $395.

• A cardigan, shirt, and jacket all in one. Sézane Betty Cardigan, $170. Size XXS to XXXL.

• Love the shape of these. Maguire Aveiro Ballerina, $240.

• The unexpected material makes this cool. Tibi Sporty Cami Dress, $176. Size 00 to 14.

• The leopard-print version of these just sold out, but two other prints are still available. Asos Design Curve Baggy Boyfriend Jean, $53. Size 14 to 24.

• A sophisticated option in silk. Emerson Fry Frankie Blouse, $238. Size XXS to XL.

• Always interested in comfortable, pull-on cotton shorts. Damson Madder Shorts, $80. Size UK6 to UK20.

• The new skirt shape this season: a lower-slung slip. Rixo Ardith Silk-Satin Midi Skirt, $295. Size UK6 to UK20.

• Cute, retro, and you’ll be the only one who has them. Gola Manhattan Sneaker, $47.50.

• Adorable, and the touch of stretch makes them wearable. Askk NY Crop Wide-Leg Pants, $265. Waist Size 23 to 34.

• Pretty, sheer ballerinas. Margaux The Demi Jane, $275.

Shop the Story

The philosophy of beauty brand Iris & Romeo really speaks to us. They are all about a simple, streamlined, less-is-more approach. Each of their products starts as skincare, but with added color pigments, meaning you get effective serum-strength formulas with built-in coverage.

We love the feel of their Best Skin Days SPF 30, which goes on as easy as a moisturizer, and hydrates while protecting skin and evening out skin tone and texture, leaving a dewy, bare-faced look (as opposed to a heavy, cakey finish that settles into fine lines). The brand’s founder, Michele Gough Baril, created the product specifically because she couldn’t find anything like it on the market that served her needs as a woman over 40. We also keep a bottle of their moisturizing hyaluronic spray – The Reset – at our desk for whenever we want a spritz of hydration. 

You can check out all their products online or at your local Sephora, where they just launched nationwide. #partner

TO READ Two nonfiction releases, both out today, both on our list of must-reads: Rachel Kushner’s Creation Lake (here on Amazon, and here on Bookshop), a cool spy thriller about an American woman who goes undercover to infiltrate a group of French eco warriors, and Danzy Senna’s Colored Television (here on Amazon, and here on Bookshop), a novel that satirizes the experience of one biracial novelist’s attempt to make money and sell out in Hollywood.

TO EAT Our new favorite ritual is enjoying a bowl of crunchy snacks and a cold seltzer while watching a bit of TV before bed. Our current go-to are these fancy cheddar cheese balls. They’re almost too good; open a bag and it’ll be demolished. 

TO SHOP This women-run online shop makes it easy for those who seek styles with more coverage and less cutouts. The Reflective offers designer options from over 75 brands, creating a one-stop destination of curated mature yet chic pieces. Check it out, and get 15 percent off your first purchase, with the code LAUNCH15. #partner

TO WATCH Before knew of National Geographic’s new documentary Killer Lies: Chasing a True Crime Con Man (now streaming on Hulu), we read the long, but worth it story it's based upon in the New Yorker. Reporter Lauren Collins spent a year investigating the exaggerations and outright falsehoods of self-styled French serial killer expert Stéphane Bourgoin, including talking to members of the obscure online fan group that first unraveled his stories.

TO PRE-ORDER Our friends at A Thing or Two just came out with the first offering from their buzzy new romantic-book company, 831 Stories. Big Fan, about a political strategist who reconnects with a childhood crush, is available for pre-order here.

Clear and obvious nostalgia-bait, but we’re here for it! This is perfection. Genuinely exciting development in the world of pap smears. “This was not depression, this was menopause.” And: “My advice for anyone who feels self-conscious about their age would simply be: don’t get botox, get divorced.”

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