The Workday Reading: May 28, 2015
May 28, 2015
***
1) So…FIFA, the corrupt offspring of a banana republic dictator and a pro sports franchise. To understand the current crisis, check out this devastating profile of FIFA head Sepp Blatter, this fivethirtyeight article on why the organization structure breeds corruption, and how the U.S. Justice Dept. vows to end graft in FIFA.
2) Every summer, I buy one pair of basic sandals. This season’s winner is the Jess sandal from Halogen. I also love these pointy-toe t-straps, also from Halogen. Both under-$100.
3) How to turn your job interview into an offer by following up properly.
4) If you love the look of a bucket bag, this $68 Free People bag is the best. It has a great shape, and the material feels lovely to the touch.
5) Lilly Pulitzer invited The Cut on a tour of their studio. Unfortunately, they didn’t tell employees to clear the fate-shaming cartoons off their cubicle walls. How lovely.
6) My obsession with kitchen gadgets continues. This $6 flex pot clip keeps your spoon within reach. And after nearly taking off a finger with my mandoline, I see the value in these cut resistant gloves.
7) Worldwide, billions of people suffer from anemia. The Lucky Iron Fish aims to change that. Great idea, great cause.
8) The Beauty Department covers why you need an eyeshadow brush. My favorite is the $6 brush from Real Techniques.
9) This is the kind of incredible before and after that makes you think massive renovations are a great idea.
10) Two new hair products I can’t live without: Miracle Leave-In Conditioner from It’s a 10, and Drybar’s Triple-Sec (it’s a dry shampoo, texturizer, and finishing spray in one). Also, if humidity is holding your hair hostage, try the Big Sexy product line.
11) Wired profiles Sen. Corey Booker and how his use of technology is changing the political landscape.
12) These Jeffrey Campbell heeled sandals are super sleek, simple, and shockingly comfortable. Also, don’t miss his super fun lace-up pumps.
*image found here.
Re #5: sadly the “fat shaming” cartoons don’t surprise me *at all*. I grew up in a part of New England where the Lily Pulitzer brand not only embodied preppy style, but also glorified a particular physical ideal (blonde, extremely thin, very tan) that many employees have probably internalized. Stores like JCrew and Banana Republic regularly ran out of size 0 and size 2, because those were the “average sizes.” These were the same women in an uproar over the Target-Lily collaboration, because they worried it would “cheapen the brand”…implying that if you couldn’t afford the $250 Lily original, you shouldn’t be wearing it.
Also Belle, which color of the Halogen “Jess” sandal did you get?
And are the comfortable?
I bought the gold.
#8 – I splurged two years ago and got the essentials set of makeup brushes from Sigma Beauty. I’m still a little fuzzy on how to use a couple of them, but they are absolutely wonderful brushes. I use three different eyeshadow brushes for my makeup in the mornings, and they’re basically the reason that I can even wear eyeshadow now. I am hopeless without them!
Sigma is a nice brush. I own a couple and their drying cuff, and I like them.
What a shame for Lily Pulitzer to realize they have to sell clothing to more than just those “perfect” individuals in order to turn a real profit. I, being short, curvy, brunette and “other” racially, certainly don’t fit the Lily image and considered buying their Target line. Thanks to illustrations like these and good info from readers like yours Belle, guess I’ll be sticking to a brand that understands who Americans really are.
Belle– did you know the coding on your blog is a tad different? Whenever I click on a link it opens in the same window, but to click on page 2, it opens a new tab. Is that backwards?
Thanks as always.
I’m doing a big redesign next month, and I’m hoping to sort out all the coding issues then. I know it’s a pain, and I do apologize for it, but the two people who’ve tried to fix it haven’t been able to, so it was more cost effective to wait. I cannot wait until it is done.
@Lelia- it is sad, especially because the Lilly brand was started with a similar philosophy as one like Diane von Furstenberg: colorful, breezy dresses that flattered women of many ages and body types. I’m not sure how it got pigeonholed into a particular WASPy ideal.
@Angie good point, but we’ve seen it before with brands. Abercrombie and Fitch comes to mind if you want to go way back! I just don’t like how the worst thing one can be now is “fat,” and that’s illustrated here. Bad at your job? Not a good friend or family member? Well as long as you’re skinny, then it’s ok! But if you’re “fat,” then according to LP, “you might as well kill yourself.” So sad when pictures become the most important thing, what truly becomes a value to people.
@Belle– you know I love your blog! I’m looking forward to seeing the new digs.
@Leila true, I think this was the reason my parents steered my sisters and me away from the A&F store in the mall when we were pre-teens. And I remember the boutiques that sold Lilly Pulitzer items only stocked sizes 0-10, because my mom had to bug them to “special-order” a size 12 dress.