Belle’s Weekly Reading: August 22, 2014

Aug 22, 2014

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Six years ago, during a boring August recess, I decided to start a fashion blog.  I thought it would be a fun diversion.  I did not think that one day tens-of-thousands of awesome women would read it.  This blog is often the best part of my day.  So thank you for stopping by, commenting and sending in e-mails.  It’s been my pleasure.

***

1) Cat-calling is a fact of life for female pedestrians.  Some women love it.  Some women hate it.  Most of us just turn the music in our headphones up a little louder to avoid it.

2) It’s going to be chilly soon enough, so I’m looking for mid-weight sweaters.  This sleek Dolman-sleeve sweater from LOFT is a great choice.  I also love the button-detail on the back of this sweater.  This eyelet-sleeve sweater is also fun (limited sizes).

3) The French Laundry is one of America’s greatest restaurants.  And now, it’s been reviewed by a four-year-old.

4) The smooth Hanky Panky Bare thongs are my favorite.  But at $22 a pair, they’re not exactly affordable.  These Calvin Klein thongs are seamless and run $12.  Target also offers a seamless modal thong for $5.

5) “Have I told you lately that you’re crazy?”  Because sometimes, you need to tell your friends the truth.

6) Every Tuesday, I check The Outnet’s new arrivals.  I never miss it.  This week, they have some great under-$100 choices.  These $35 Yosi Samra snake-skin flats caught my eye.  These DAV rain boots are whimsical and practical.  They have a great Breton-striped top in navy or black.  But this structured Theory top with a slight peplum is my favorite.

7) If liquor bottle labels told the truth.

8) I’ve been doing yoga for stress relief.  My favorite workout tops are the Athleta Odyssey tanks.  They’re perfectly slouchy, come in a great selection of colors, and they promise not to retain smells.  I also love their long-sleeved Sharkbite top.  With my Zella leggings, they’re a comfortable, stylish yoga ensemble.

If you’re looking for some less expensive options, try Old Navy.  I like this racerback top.  They also offer plus-sizes.

9) Lots of fun stories out of this year’s Little League World Series.  A female pitcher is tearing it up in a boys’ game.  And a little league coach reminds us that you don’t coach sports, you coach children.

10) These Nails Inc. Gel-Effect polishes are amazing.  The colors are vivid, and their fall colors (esp. Grosvenor Crescent) are fab.  I mix them with Deborah Lippman’s gel base and topcoat.  My last polish job has over two weeks with no chips.

11) If you were planning to become a billionaire by making a must-have iPhone app, that ship has probably sailed.

12) This $25 crossbody satchel from Old Navy looks awesome in person.  A great buy.

13) Initially, I was skeptical of the Ice Bucket Challenge–mostly because I saw several golfers and TV hosts pour ice water on their heads before I heard anyone mention ALS, so I figured he cause was getting lost in the hype.  But according to numbers from ALS Association, they’ve raised over $40-million in the past three weeks, double their total donations for 2013.  Apparently, people will pay to watch their loved ones get soaked with freezing cold water.

14) This under-$100 Adrianna Papell skirt has such a cool print.  Mix it with neutrals for work or a t-shirt for the weekend.

Workday Reading

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  1. Michelle says:

    Congratulations on 6 years! Your blog has done so much for me. I appreciate your advice every day. Thank you!

  2. Melanie says:

    Thought I’d share something I found/learned about a couple of weeks ago that pertains to #1. For the ladies who don’t appreciate catcalling and who generally get disgusted by it, this website is pretty great: https://www.cardsagainstharassment.com/index.html

    • Mo says:

      I love these! Thanks for sharing. I live/work in downtown Denver and just bought a scooter to commute on, probably 50% because I was sick of being “complimented” on my walk to and from work everyday.

  3. Christina says:

    Supposedly that NY Post article was supposed to be satire. Albeit horrible, offensive satire which entirely falls flat and misses the point.

    • Belle says:

      That didn’t come through at all for me. Maybe I’m just not smart enough to be reading the Post? (I can’t believe I actually typed that with a straight face.)

      • Christina says:

        I’ve read on a couple of other sites that have addressed the article that there was some sort of mix up with it but that apparently it was actually supposed to be satire. Though as you said it doesn’t come across at all.

  4. Denise Miller says:

    Love the blog! It’s a must read for me every day. It looks like the link in No. 13 is wrong. It links to a bathing suit.

  5. Anna says:

    I too was skeptical of the challenge and generally don’t feel comfortable making my charity public, but then a friend nominated me. I was just going to fork up some cash and call it a day. But on top of feeling like a party pooper, I actually started doing some research on the disease and it kind of hit me, my friend pouring ice on her head made me learn more about a disease that I had heard of but knew little about and compelled me to donate to a cause to which I otherwise wouldn’t have. So maybe my dumping ice on my head would achieve the same? I made sure to mention ALS, directed people to alsa.org for more info, and donated to my local chapter. I also linked to the video of how the challenge all got started (it’s a tear jerker). For the people who say just donate and call it a day, part of this is also to bring awareness. ALS affects a lot of people, but it’s still considered an orphan or rare disease, so it doesn’t get the same kind of research dollars diseases like Cancer or AIDS might get, because treatments aren’t seen as profitable. On top of that, I liked that ALSA doesn’t just focus on research but also on support services for families to help them deal with what is a draining disease, both emotionally and financially.

    • AnxiousFriend says:

      My friend’s dad died of it, and in his waning 2 years their family received from the state ALS organization actual equipment needed to modify their home so that he could be cared for at home, as well as trained caretakers, etc. Wonderful organization, terrible disease.

  6. Law grad says:

    I am curious about the Gel Effect polish lasting two weeks! Did you actually mix the products? Or just skip the GE base and top coats? Would love some details!

  7. Brittany says:

    A little disappointed by your thoughts in #1. I think of you as usually someone willing to address the underlying cause of societal issues and push for a solution, or at least make your readers think more about it. I’d argue that by staying silent, this kind of thing remains an acceptable form of behavior, which is not okay. The more we, as a society, “turn up the music in our headphones” and ignore problems facing us (and, boy are they plentiful), the longer these ills persist. End rant.

    • Christina says:

      I was as well. Belle, I follow you on twitter as well and I’ve seen you tweet things that are supportive of feminism and the like and as Brittany stated having someone like you who a lot of women look to for advice regarding all aspects of life, especially being a successful woman in often male dominated fields simply say we should just deal with it and accept it as a part of life makes me lose a little bit of faith in you. I really hope that is not what you legitimately meant though. As someone who was sexually assaulted as a young teenager and who as a woman who has been catcalled almost daily, the joys of city living, cat calls are a form of sexual violence and intimidation and should be treated as such. There are thousands of cases of violent acts committed against women who either ignored a catcaller, attempted to reject them, or simply questioned them about why they believe it is acceptable behaviour. Cat calls are not just something we should accept and deal with.

    • Belle says:

      I’m not staying silent on anything. It is finals week. My thoughts are occupied elsewhere.

      This post is to share what I’m reading. Those were two articles I read this week. There was no conscious choice to not do more in depth commentary. There was a conscious choice to share something interesting and thought provoking. I figured it would spur a discussion in the comments about people’s thoughts, and that’s what I wanted. I didn’t think the post was lesser for not having an in depth treatise on my own.

      • Christina says:

        I understand that it’s finals week for you, good luck! I start grad school in two weeks and am scared to death. It was just that line that you wrote regarding simply accepting it and turning up your headphones comes off as dismissive and this is one of those issues which being dismissive of in any setting does more harm than good.

        • Belle says:

          Putting in my headphones is being dismissive of the jackass cat calling me, not the issue itself. It wouldn’t be safe for me to stop to chew him out.

        • Michelle says:

          I read it a different way – I’ve gotten cat called in public, and sometimes I respond with a finger or a word, and sometimes, as Belle mentioned, I literally turn up the music on my headphones and keep walking, in an effort to discourage additional attention by non-response (like we train dogs?). “Dismissing” someone’s rude behavior and dismissing the fact that this is a problem for women sound like two different actions. Maybe, as you seem to be suggesting, I should respond every time I get cat called to send a strong consistent message that I’m not okay with it, but I’m not sure I’m that gutsy.

          • Christina says:

            Clearly my point is being missed. As I stated I understand the violence which can result from these instances. I was not referring to responding to the individual doing the cat calling. I was stating that being dismissive of the issue when I comes to awareness in the community being dismissive and stating that you should simply accept it is the problem. I personally respond to cat callers when it is the middle of the day and I am in a well populated area with a blank face and some sort of question or comment. Getting agitated and irritated at these men is usually what they are after. However when it is night and I am alone I as well ignore and carry on my way.

            As I said though, I was referring to how Belle’s statement could be interpreted as her being dismissive of the issue and simply encouraging women to suck it up because she usually uses the blog, when it comes to similar issues, as a platform to encourage awareness and discussion of the issue. I was in no way saying she is wrong or attacking her.

  8. barchbo says:

    Thanks for the tip on the Yosi Samras – just ordered them!

    I love your blog. While I read a number of fashion and lifestyle blogs, yours has great writing, intelligence and fabulous style. Thank you and congratulations on six years!

  9. Hinna says:

    I’ve been a silent reader for quite some time, but just want to thank YOU for this blog. It’s a mix of everything I enjoy 🙂

  10. Whitney says:

    Congratulations on six years, Belle! I’ve been reading for at least three years but don’t comment a lot. Your blog is a daily read; thanks for keeping it up while going back to school.

  11. Prisha says:

    I love your blog! Congrats on 6 years – I found out about your blog by chance but it has become one of my faves!! Thank you!

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