WE HAVE a new pet, and I am not happy about it. Although somewhat furry, it isn’t cuddly, snuggly or cute. It doesn’t follow commands and will never fetch the paper, or my slippers, or even its own toy. That’s because it’s a spider—a horrible, scary, hideous and outrageously large monster that set up housekeeping on our side deck, within steps of our hot tub, about one month ago and is apparently quite content to live out its life there, spinning intricate webs which it eats every night and ultimately having hideous little spider babies that will grow up to torment other poor souls like me.
Called a Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia to its friends), Wikipedia describes it this way:
“Yellow garden spiders are large, orb-weaving arachnids, meaning they spin a circular web. Most spiders have two claws on each foot, but orb weavers have an additional claw to help them spin their complex webs. In females, the top side of the abdomen is black with symmetrical patches of bright yellow.” It goes on to say that its bite is not poisonous, having the same impact of a bee sting and posing no risk to humans except if you are allergic.
Okay, two things: First of all, yuck, yech and gross. Second, I happen to be allergic to spiders and have visited the ER three times for treatment of bites. While my breathing is not impacted and thus my life is not in danger, whatever part of me gets bitten swells to the size of an average telephone pole within minutes and stays that way until whatever magic drug the doc shoots into me takes effect.
Naturally, being of sound mind I have arachnophobia. And yes, I have sought treatment for it and it did not work—why would it? It consisted of tapping my forehead with my fingers a dozen times while saying aloud, “Nice spider, cute spider, I love spiders.” (For that I paid $400, so I am not only afraid of spiders but morons.)
So no, I am not at all amused by “Spidey,” as my husband calls it. Mitch loves Spidey and finds it interesting. He gets up each morning and goes out to say hello to it. Or actually her, since she matches the description. Personally I think if you are going to name her you should go for something like Spidette, or even Charlotte, as in Charlotte’s Web, the famous children’s book I could never read, for obvious reasons.
My dear friend Jay came for dinner a few nights ago and fell in love with Spidey. Jay is an outdoors enthusiast, and that’s putting it mildly. Anyway, she took a lot of pictures of the thing. Despite her trying to get me over my fear I remain disgusted and look forward to winter. Hopefully it will be severe and Spidey will freeze or be blown away in a punishing Nor’easter.
THE NEWS announced Covid-19 was a pandemic, and pffft went gym routines, yoga classes and Pilates sessions. About a week or so later, though, as we frantically washed hands and Cloroxed anything that didn’t move, Zoom came to the rescue with virtual workouts. I signed in.
I put my towel down on the living room carpet, the computer on the coffee table and found a pair of three-pound weights that I had squirreled away after some physical therapy a couple of years ago. But the floor was hard on my back, so I bought a yoga mat. Much cushier. My weights worked fine for biceps/triceps exercises but resistance bands, say yoga and Pilates instructors, are more versatile—and portable—though that was and isn’t a factor for the time being. So, I ordered a set of bands in three levels of difficulty (red, green and blue). Past purchases also included the Pilates Magic Circle I acquired when I began Pilates classes four years ago. And then my Overball for pelvic core exercises and two Franklin Textured Balls for soothing sore muscles.
It wasn’t too long before my beautiful living room started to look like a disorganized exercise studio with weights and mats (my husband had his own virtual sessions) on and around the carpet and bands and towels strewn over chairs and couches. “Enough,” I said, and moved my equipment stash to my home office/aka guest room. My husband went back to playing tennis outdoors.
Workout clothing? you ask. My collection was triste. A 10-year-old pair of black Lululemon leggings, a newer pair from Sweaty Betty and a random collection of old T-shirts, including one from the Spring 2008 District Sample Sale. Not exactly inspiring.
Fall is here; winter is coming. Get ready for it with a DIY gym. See our suggestions below, along with some motivational workout wear.
—Janet Kelly
ABOVE: The TheraBands Resistance Bands Set ($13.02, Amazon) consists of three bands, each measuring 5 feet long by 5 inches wide. They come in three resistance levels, ranging from yellow (the lightest, at 3 pounds) to green (the most, 6.7 pounds). I hang mine on a doorknob and on a door hinge for upper body work—shoulder-strengthening exercises and tricep pulldowns.
LEFT: I sprung for the Stamina AeroPilates Magic Circle $30, Amazon) instead of using the old-generation abductor-adductor machine at the gym I used to frequent. It’s also a good sub for machines that work the upper body area. Designed by Joseph Pilates, the man behind the famous method, it’s an exercise tool you can use anywhere.
RIGHT: Yoga classes use blocks like Gaiam’s Purple Yoga Block ($9.99, Dick’s Sporting Goods) for stability. This one is made of lightweight foam with a non-slip surface. (I don’t have one—yet.)
BELOW: A lot plusher than your average mat, the 5/8-inch-thick Balanced Body Aeromat Workout Mat($52, Amazon) is kind to sensitive backs and/or joints. It’s also large enough—72 inches long-by-23 inches wide—to comfortably do a yoga routine or rounds of push-ups, bridges and planks.
LEFT: A little shine can elevate any workout, which is why we’re drawn to Alo’s High-Waist Shine Airbrush Legging ($88) in gorgeous oxblood. It lifts, it sculpts, it’s antimicrobial, too!
RIGHT: Amazon’s brightly colored Neoprene Dumbbell Pairsstart at $10.40 for a 1-pound pair, a two-pounder is $12.66. The price goes up from there, depending on weight.
LEFT: Black makes us all look sleeker, but how much better I bet we’d all look in a non-draining color like the lavender on this cotton-blend, sweat-wicking Sweatee Longsleeve T-Shirt ($58, Outdoor Voices) with a slightly cropped fit.
RIGHT: The same goes for Sweaty Betty’s Euphoria Short Sleeve Workout T-Shirt($40). Almost too cute to wear just in your home office/gym. A good reason to go for it: All profits donated to United Way Worldwide’s Covid-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund.
LEFT: For anyone, like me, for example, who wants leggings that holds in their abs and lifts their derrières, look no further than the London-based Sweaty Betty’s beetle-blue-colored High Shine Sculpt Workout Leggings ($94, Nordstrom).
CENTER: Pair those sculpt workout leggings with the brand’s breathable, quick-drying Breeze Long Sleeve Running Top ($88, Sweaty Betty). You’ll be the star of your own workout. Reward yourself by grabbing a coffee with a pal—socially distant, of course—afterwards.
LEFT: Like its aforementioned sibling, the Sweatee T-Shirt($48, Outdoor Voices) comes in four other colors besides this navy blue. Wear it for everyday activities—running, walking the dog or working out in your gym-equipped office or any other room.
RIGHT: When you’re not in the mood to shine but rather slip quietly under the radar, try this Wunder Under High-Rise Tight 28″ ($98, Lululemon). The pattern on this pair is Wild Thing Camo Deep Coal. Who comes up with these names? The waistband pocket will hold your keys or your credit card.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
NOTE TO SELF: Buy anti-aging pillowcase before next birthday. Apparently there are ones on the market, and thank God I won’t have to actually look my age anymore.
Who knew that buying the wrong silk pillowcase, which is very easy to do I might add, can actually cause wrinkles? The one I saw advertised is made of mulberry silk, which as you know is the key to not growing older. I did not know and have been sleeping on cotton pillowcases my whole life and consequently I kept aging and got to be 74, which sucks. I am also going to invest in one of those anti-aging exercise videos I saw advertised on Instagram this morning. Both of those things together should certainly stop the clock.
Aren’t modern-day scientists amazing? They can keep you from getting wrinkles, or at least diminish the look of the wrinkles you already have. At least, that’s what the fine print says.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg at her confirmation hearing for her appointment to the Supreme Court on July 21, 1993. / R. Michael Jenkins, Congressional Quarterly.
ONE THING people in Washington learned about Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Don’t get between her and a tenor.
It was half a dozen years ago at the dinner following the opening-night performance of the Washington Opera. And there was the diminutive dynamo in her long filet-lace gloves, maneuvering her way closer and closer to the stars of the evening. Always courteous, always respectful, she looked up at each tall, bulky person blocking her and asked if she could just scoot around them. Seemingly shy but insistent, she made her way through the scrum.
Seemingly shy but insistent was RBG’s way forward. Along her way up the ladder, she outsmarted sex discrimination, winning cases for male plaintiffs alleging unequal treatment, knowing that the logical extension of her wins would redound to the benefit of women. And they did.
Who could say “no” to the venerable RBG? Well, of course, a good number of her colleagues on the Supreme Court did, often outvoting, but never outthinking, her. She became famous for her well-reasoned, and intensely felt, dissents, which usually made as much of a stir as the ultimate rulings by the Big Bench.
When did Ruth Bader Ginsburg become Notorious RBG, an icon for every woman trying to be heard? Hard to say exactly, but we can bet she did it seemingly shy but insistent.
From left to right: Boden Redmond Jacket, Evita Belted Jacket from Farfetch and Taion Self-Heating Inner Down Jacket at Goop.
MY PAVLOVIAN response to September—a fluttering heart anticipating what to buy to look splendid for all the season’s upcoming occasions. So, yeah, that’s not happening this month. Because this is a month, a fall— it’s going on a year— unlike any others, when the opportunity for dressing up at all is shall we say, at the least, limited. Nevertheless, I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before—I’m sick of sweats and overly slouchy stuff that has so far been our reaction to a changed world.
Infectious diseases expert and the no bulls- – t Dr. Fauci has warned that the next several months of colder weather are going to be tough. Accordingly, I’m steeling myself for the times with a more committed approach to exercise and a plan to spend as much time outside as possible. I’m also rethinking my clothing choices. Like real pants but with an elastic waistband, silky shirts and soft sweaters, upscale sweatshirts, maybe even a skirt or OMG—a dress every now and then, even though the only public we have to impress is ourselves or a spouse, family or Zoom groups. But as Virginia Woolf wrote in her 1928 book, Orlando: “…. clothes have, they say, more important offices than merely to keep us warm. They change our view of the world and the world’s view of us.”
First on our curated list of fall wardrobe updates is a selection of jackets suited for the in-between weather that’s on our doorstep. Our picks below include retro, longish denim jackets; modern lumber jackets; army-green utility jackets, as well as leather and quilted styles, most of which will accommodate a couple of layers.
—Janet Kelly
LEFT: The style of &Other Stories’ Wool Blend Workwear Shirt ($149) reminds me of the lumber jacket I used to wear in college. It belonged to my roommate’s boyfriend, but for some reason, she and I shared it all through fall and beyond, layering our shirts and sweaters beneath it when the New England chill set in. Shown in burgundy, this cozy but tailored shirt/jacket is also available in black, oatmeal and cream. BTW, the designer Nanuskha is selling a vegan leather version for six times the price. RIGHT: Such an unexpected but pretty color combination on this Evita Belted Short Jacket ($462, Farfetch)from Italian brand Andamane. The waist-defining belt could just be what, er, cinches the deal.
LEFT: Made from a 50-50 blend of wool and polyester, Boden’s semi-fitted Redmond Jacket ($210) clicks a lot of boxes. It’s lined, belted and has a stand-up collar for warmth around the neck where some of us need it most. It’s also available in camel. RIGHT: Here’s something different for tech lovers. Japanese-based brand Taion’s Self-Heating Inner Down Jacket($270, Goop) with a rain-proof shell and down filling has an inner lining with a set of micro heating coils that charges on a phone battery. It’s a three-in-one jacket—wear it as a vest on warm days, then add the long sleeves for cold days, the short sleeves for temperate times. The whole shebang fits into a small nylon pouch, which is included, as well as a USB connector. Great for travel whenever that happens again.
LEFT: An update on the classic, kind of loose-fitting Barbour, this snug Forth Quilted Jacket is nipped in in all the right places ($250, Nordstrom). Perfect for coolish fall and early spring days. RIGHT: About five years ago, MyLittleBird Managing Editor Nancy McKeon advised me to take the plunge and buy a cream-colored leather jacket at a sample sale in NYC. The color always makes me feel as if I’m a cool chick because I’m wearing cream leather, not black. Which is why I like the look of this Leather Jacket ($299.99, Mango). I also like the slightly longer length here. Sometimes leather can be stiff, but this one doesn’t look as if it is.
LEFT: The Denim Chore Jacket ($88, Everlane) appropriately has plenty of pockets —four (three exterior, one interior). Made of loosely woven non-stretch denim, it’s meant to feel as soft as if you’ve worn it for years. Hint: It looks especially good paired with wide-leg cropped jeans. RIGHT: Army jackets never lose their appeal. Wear this slightly fitted Classic Utility Jacket ($99, L.L. Bean) as your fall uniform.
LEFT: A classic peacoat in corduroy (reduced from $129.90 to $99.90) from the Ines de la Fressange collection at Uniqlo. I’m also much in like with de la Fressange’s Denim Coverall ($69.90) with a slightly curved hem and a soupçon of red embroidery on the cuffs and pockets. RIGHT: Made from recycled polyester, Everlane’s ReNew Channeled Liner ($98) is light enough so you won’t look like a hulk when you layer it over, say, a heavy turtleneck. Likewise, you can slip it under your coat —for extra warmth.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
SO WE’RE driving down the highway, my husband at the wheel, returning from a relaxing week on Mount Desert Island. That morning’s hike had made me sleepy, so being in the passenger seat I took the liberty of stretching out, my bare feet on the dashboard and my toes just inches from the windshield. This is a common enough position for many travelers, mostly in summer on the way home from the beach.
Suddenly the car directly in front of us braked, so naturally my husband did the same. This action thrust me forward, causing my feet to make contact with the windshield. We instantly heard a loud noise and watched in horror as a giant web of cracks spread over the right side of the windshield. Nothing else happened. There was no crash, no accident, the car ahead turned and we kept going, but now with an obvious problem. Turns out it’s no easy task to get a new windshield during a pandemic.
Immediately I called my car dealership, Morong Audi in Falmouth, Maine. A woman in the service department told me to call Portland Glass. “They do all our glass work,” she explained. I said I was surprised that they didn’t do their own, being a car dealer with a huge service department. She replied, “Nope, we send everyone to Portland Glass.”
So I called Portland Glass. The woman I spoke with there said she would need a few days to find the right part for my particular make and model, and that she would call me first thing Tuesday morning. That’s today. But she didn’t call, so I called her back. Three times. Each time I got a recorded message saying how important my call was to them and could I please leave my name and number and a brief message and they would get back to me.
They didn’t.
My final message contained a strongly-worded and somewhat graphic piece of my mind. I then began looking elsewhere for a new windshield. Hey, how about Safelite, that place that advertises on TV all the time? Nobody answered the phone but their recording said to go online. So I went online and answered a whole bunch of questions and finally got an appointment for a week from today, with a price quote of $823.
Meanwhile, a friend of mine in the glass business alerted me to the fact that windshields are out of stock everywhere around here until January. Something about Covid making it more difficult to get them. Anyway, he said to be cautious about who I did business with and be sure to ask where the windshield was from so I won’t get stuck with some crummy “after-market piece of junk.”
So then, nervous, I called the service manager at Morong and ran all of this by him, and he agreed that I had to be careful to not get an inferior product, and that he really couldn’t help but that Portland Glass was reputable, although it might take a while for them to come through.
Later in the afternoon the Portland Glass lady called back with a price for me: $1,253.56. As my friend had instructed, I asked where she would be getting the windshield. Her answer was surprising: “Morong, in Falmouth. That’s where we buy all our windshields.”
IN MARCH, when the global pandemic became a reality, it scared the—insert expletive here—out of us. We holed up at home, opted for grocery delivery and let our hair grow, grow out and grow gray. In the midst of the crisis, shapeless, faded hair was the least of our worries. But almost six months in, we were curious how attitudes might be changing now that many of us are going further afield than the supermarket and drug store. So we sent out an e-mail to ask. From your responses, it looks as if you’re more likely to head to the salon for haircuts and color than for groomed and polished hands and toes. Although several of you mentioned that pedicures feel less risky than manicures, where “commingling exhalations” while having your nails buffed are hard to avoid.
Some of you said you were cutting back on the frequency of your appointments, be they for hair treatments, nails, etc. One New York City reader remains a hair holdout. She has decided to wait for a vaccine to go back to her stylist, but a week or ago she got her husband to chop her long locks off.
Whatever service you decided to re-engage with, everyone emphasized they were being extremely cautious and only frequented places that made them feel safe through a combination of temperature checks, diligent disinfectant procedures and keeping the number of people at a minimum. No one, including me with wild and woolly brows, was inclined to have theirs waxed or plucked. There wasn’t a lot of chatter about makeup, except that you weren’t wearing much. From our own Kathy Legg: “I have completely forgotten how to put on makeup.” And, finally, whether it was necessity or luxury, a few of you found your way to the dermatologist’s office.
One refreshing take on beauty upkeep came from a Pittsburgh woman who said the pandemic had given her chance “to get acquainted with the natural me—reluctantly perhaps at first, but there is something to be said for embracing the process of aging…gracefully. And during a period of panic and imposed quarantine, I am so grateful to be among those still alive and aging.”
Below, some more thoughts from readers, as well as some of our staff, on their routines and how they’re evolving. Thanks to all for contributing.
—Janet Kelly
Kathy Legg: I briefly considered going gray those first months, but it wasn’t pretty and I decided I’m just not ready for that so I was one of the first customers back in the salon as soon it reopened. However, I’ve not been as brave where manicures and pedicures are concerned, and it’s been a summer of sneakers rather than sandals.
Maureen: Well, I just got my eyebrows done (waxed and colored) for the second time since March — eyebrows must grow faster than my hair since I haven’t needed another one since March…and luckily I’ve been gray for a while now! I did get a “polish change” for my toenails though—they grow faster too! Both shops made me feel confident—masks and face coverings by everyone inside. And I wore my own mask throughout.
Cindy T: Just had this conversation with my thirty-something daughter yesterday…great timing!
My hair…it was probably good to have that months-long lag between coloring appointments back in March until early June. That gave me a chance to assess how much gray I actually have up top. The world around me was emulating Cruella di Vil, so that look became the new norm and gave women a way to trauma bond over something other than uncomfortable shoes. Periodically I risked viral infection to dash into a drugstore, grabbing several boxes of DIY hair color at a time. My first few mistakes might have been traumatic in the past, but during Covid quarantine, they were simply entertaining home experiments, the results of which were shared during chats with friends. I think I’ve settled on a color and brand of $9 box color I like…and since it’s semi-permanent dye with no harsh chemicals, my hair looks shinier than ever. I may keep it up.
Speaking of nails, mine have never looked so natural and I don’t like it. Yet, I cannot justify sitting face to face with a nail tech for an hour at a time—my arms are too short to avoid commingling our exhalations. Interestingly enough, sans semiweekly nail polish, dips and gels, my nails are growing in stronger than I expected. Maybe it’s all the collagen powder I am stirring into my morning coffee, or maybe the lack of harsh chemicals in these beauty applications, but something good has come of it. As for pedicures though, I’d never forgo those during barefoot, or flip-flopped summer months. Stretched out in a chair at the nail salon, maintaining six feet between the nail technician and myself—both of us wearing masks and face shields—is easy.
Caren: Yes, the nail salon, with two customers only, has been giving me manis and pedis as soon as they opened in June. Just finished a second dental cleaning since they reopened. Went for a checkup, scheduled last year, with my PCP. Hair color with my stylist who has her own cubicle at Sola Salon. My sister-in-law (a professional hair dresser) cuts my hair outside on my porch. Places have been cautious, clean and careful. Wish I could have my brows shaped and get a facial, but impossible with masks and social distancing.
Nancy G: My haircut was great—I think I lost three pounds! Very few customers. My temperature taken as I walked in, and check-in individually on an iPad. Gown and towels in plastic bags, obviously laundered between clients. My stylist disinfected everything before I sat down. She even Purelled her hands after receiving a tip in cash from her last client before picking up the scissors again. And everyone masked. Felt pretty safe.
Inside a nail salon with socially distant measures in place. / Photo / Carol Lichty.
Carol: My routine has been turned upside down. I (with my husband’s help) have been trimming my hair and it’s been ok. I have had the same hairdresser for over 30 years and tried to mimic how she cuts it! I had just had color and cut in February for a family wedding and when summer hits my hair does some sun bleaching. But I’m now contemplating whether to let it go or color myself.
I have had a few pedicures (first one in June) but no manicures because that would mean being inside a couple hours and too close up. I feel safe getting a pedicure because they’ve created these rolling plexiglass cages around the chair and the technicians wear masks AND face shields. I also go during off-hours so only a couple customers in there when I’m there. I have worn makeup rarely but still use an astringent and moisturizer regularly. Just made a trip to dermatologist today to get a couple items zapped off.
Jodie: I am going gray. I did go to my colorist to make the process look better. But I decided that because Covid will be sticking around for a while I might as well let the gray come in. I’ve had my haircut but much less often than normal. My stylist says that even his regular customers are not coming as often as they did. He says nobody cares what they look like anymore.
Cindy S: It took me seven months to get up the courage to have my hair cut. Done in my backyard, a cut and color. Color was interesting: Applied and then a sit in the sun on a hot day. Came out great without the roasting under a dryer. My handyman guys were around, laughing their heads off at spacewoman with the foil growing out of her head.
I haven’t worn makeup since the disaster struck. It looking like it’s decaying in the organizer I keep it in.
Too scared to get a pedicure though my feet cry out for one. My glasses are slipping and sliding, but can’t imagine anyone that close in my face—whom I don’t know.
I did go to the dermatologist, twice. Once because I looked and felt like a massive itchy pizza and the bites were unidentifiable. I had to go in for a biopsy. All ok but told not to cancel scheduled full-body scan. I masked up, gloved up and held my breath a lot.
Nancy McKeon: It’s quite sobering to see what our friends really look like! I envy you your “woolly” eyebrows—I have, basically, little to none, and have just learned that hair loss all over the body is a downside of the thyroid meds I’ve been taking for years!
I have found a wonderful pedicurist about five (long) blocks from my home. She does a “medical pedicure,” which is more comprehensive than just cutting and then slapping some polish on (in fact, i don’t use any polish at all). It’s not a visit to the podiatrist; in some ways it’s better! (though it costs almost as much.) Marina and I are alone in the front parlor of her ground-floor spa, one client at a time.
I haven’t had a manicure, can manage that on my own. I’ve had one haircut since March, need another one very soon, as you can imagine. Also need to have my fading brown hair darkened and then streaked just a little bit, nothing too extreme.
I have a Georgian pedicurist and a Russian hairdresser. The restaurant around the corner is owned by a Romanian woman, and the ice cream shop up the street is Albanian. i should try for a Ukrainian . . . something.
Beth: Hair yes and dermatology yes. Nails no way.
Mary: Haven’t ventured out much. I did take my granddaughter for a pedicure a couple of weeks ago. It was all plexiglassed in. My daughter had someone come to the house for a haircut so I joined in. Other than that I’m still ordering groceries for delivery.
I do hope this will be over soon but I’m afraid we have a few more months.
Bonnie:I have gotten my hair cut and colored twice—but with more time in between than previously. I also go very early in the morning when the shop is only running at about one-third capacity to keep distances, etc. I did not have the keratin this summer because I did not want to sit in one place for a couple of hours.
I have had a mani and pedi—same as above —more infrequently—and check to be sure how many will be there—running at 1/3 capacity. I have not had my eyebrows done, and hope that my hair hides the mess!
I really am not out as much as during normal times. No makeup—I have a mask on—perhaps I should do eye makeup but have not.
Janet Kelly: My brows remain unkempt because I’m way too chicken to have an aesthetician so close to my face. My first foray into haircut and color was in June (just when salons in town got the go-ahead to open) in my friend’s gorgeous back garden with her longtime hair stylist. She even served Pinot Grigio and some canapés. It felt more like a Mediterranean vacation than a Covid-era haircut. I’ve continued with hair appointments but in a salon where the aforementioned stylist is sole proprietor and only has one customer at a time.
No professional manis or pedis and no sandals for me this summer. Sigh.
On my wish list: a new, more modern-looking pair of glasses and a visit to the dermatologist to banish brown spots and other stuff.
@Harper’s Bazaar: First in Fashion by Éric-Pujalet-Plaà and Marianne le Galliard, Rizzoli New York, 2020.
PARIS IS a no-go destination for us U.S. denizens, at least for the foreseeable future. Which means we’ll probably miss the city’s Musée des Arts Décoratifs’ exhibition celebrating fashion magazine Harper’s Bazaar. But history buffs and fashion and photography lovers can still enjoy the show through a grand, coffee-table-size tome, Harper’s Bazaar: First in Fashion, published this September by Rizzoli.
Launched in New York in 1867, the magazine has always showcased the work of the best and the brightest, from designers, such as Madeleine Vionnet, Cristobal Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior and Alexander McQueen, to photographers like Adolphe de Meyer, Edward Steichen, Man Ray, Hiro and Richard Avedon. From the outset, literary contributions were an integral part of the magazine’s story. Colette, Virginia Woolf and Eudora Welty, as well as Mark Twain, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Truman Capote all wrote for Bazaar. One of the influential forces behind the ’60s Pop Art movement, Andy Warhol began his career as a commercial illustrator for the magazine in the early 1950s.
The magazine’s first editor, Mary Louise Booth, a francophile and feminist, who promoted the suffragist movement, set the tone for a long line of visionary, creative editors-in-chief, including Carmel Snow, Diana Vreeland, Liz Tilberis and Glenda Bailey, for each of whom there’s a section describing their accomplishments and impact on the magazine. Snow had impeccable taste, could spot talent and forecast trends; the larger-than-life Vreeland championed unconventional beauty and coined catchphrases like “Pink is the navy blue of India.” In the early 1990s, under Tilberis and her creative director, Fabien Baron, supermodels (Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, to name a couple) became celebrities. The duo favored black and white photography and clean lines. When Bailey—who stepped down this past March—took over in 2001, she and creative director Stephen Gan made their mark with humor, fantasy and theatrical staging.
Most delightful are the book’s abundance of photos—both in color and black and white—by Avedon, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Patrick Demarchelier, Peter Lindbergh and many more talented men and women behind the lens. Likewise, it’s a treat to see the evolution of the magazine covers, from Art Nouveau illustrations to a photo of actor Steve McQueen (Bazaar was the first women’s fashion magazine to put a man on the cover in 1965) to a photo-booth cover shot of Jean Shrimpton (1965) by Avedon to Demi Moore feeding a giraffe (2010) and Rihanna lying inside the mouth of shark, accompanied by the cover line “Killer Fashion” (2015).
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
We’re reposting Mary Carpenter’s Sept. 18, 2017 on the healing power of altered states of consciousness and accessing the brain’s default mode network—with the idea that these troubled times might call for dramatic remedies.
“ALTERED STATES” of consciousness can change an individual’s personality (thought to remain relatively fixed after age 30) and have “tremendous healing power,” according to psychiatrist Stanislav Grof, 1960s researcher of LSD as a therapeutic tool, at Johns Hopkins and elsewhere.
Altered states have been explored by ingesting drugs like LSD, psilocybin and the recently popular ayahuasca (which involves vomiting) and with an “extended” meditation practice, which can take months or years to develop; also for some through sensory deprivation, lucid dreaming and other “natural” means.
The healing powers of altered states are traced to slowing or redirecting blood flow away from brain structures responsible for rigid habitual thinking, obsessions and addictions —as well as from thoughts focused on the self and daydreaming, which arise as background chatter when the brain is “at rest.”
Known as the brain’s “default mode network,” these structures make up what’s known as the “emotional brain,” responsible for feelings, behavior, motivation and long-term memory. Located in the frontal and pre-frontal cortex and the limbic system, these structures, including the amygdala and hippocampus, have been implicated in everything from depression to creativity.
“Whether or not your default activity is helpful or harmful depends on where your mind automatically tends to go,” Scott Barry Kaufman, scientific director at the University of Pennsylvania’s Imagination Institute, told New York Magazine. “Our greatest source of suffering isn’t the default mode, but when we get stuck in the default mode:” a disturbed default mode network (DMN) is a mechanism in depression.
Bypassing the DMN puts the ego out of commission by dissolving boundaries between self and the world, according to John Hopkins psychologist Matthew Johnson, who researches the effects of psilocybin (magic mushrooms). What Johnson calls a “primary mystical experience” includes “a transcendence of time and space, a sense of unity and sacredness and a deeply felt positive mood” that is highly correlated with successful therapeutic outcomes.
Personality change—becoming more open-minded, tolerant, and interested in fantasy and imagination—was experienced by most of the healthy volunteers in Johnson’s two psilocybin studies, in 2006 and 2011, and confirmed in interviews with their family members, friends and colleagues. In the earlier study, 1/3 of participants rated their psilocybin session the most spiritually significant experience of their lives, ahead of the birth of a child or death of a parent.
“Early results suggest that when used by people without a family history or risk of psychological problems, psychedelics can make us kinder, calmer and better at our jobs…more open-minded and generous,” according to a Washington Post story.
Maybe most significant, the effects persisted in follow-up interviews at one year or longer —“an unprecedented finding” for a drug taken only once, New York University psychiatrist Stephen Ross told The New Yorker. Ross noted “incredible results” in a number of studies testing psilocybin in the treatment of depression, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other mental problems.
While psychedelics might provide what some call a “cheat code to enlightenment,” risks associated with illegality and unpleasant physical and mental experiences have turned some “psychonauts” toward different kinds of breathing —such as mindful breathing, coherent breathing and yoga breathing.
Examination of natural breathing rhythms has linked electrical activity in the brain that enhances emotional judgment and memory recall to different kinds of breath: inhaling and exhaling and breathing through the nose and the mouth. Recall was better for images viewed while inhaling, for example, in research by Northwestern University neurology professor Christine Zelano, who notes: “When you inhale you are in a sense synchronizing brain oscillations across the limbic network.”
In the years since LSD became illegal, Stanislav Grof created “Holotropic Breathwork”—holotropic from the Greek, meaning moving toward wholeness. The technique involves deep, fast breathing accompanied by music of specific vibrations, as a route to what Grof calls “non-ordinary states of consciousness.” Breathwork usually takes place in three-hour sessions, offered in day-long workshops around the country. The music changes for different phases of the session.
The technique is trademarked and can be facilitated only by those certified by Grof Transpersonal Training, although instructions for DIY breathwork abound. Reasons for starting out with an experienced guide include risks, such as panic attacks brought on by rapid breathing; and tetany, in which excess oxygenation causes muscles of the body to tighten up. Also, people starting out can feel uneasy and disoriented. (Those with lung conditions like asthma should check with a doctor.)
For the future, the new Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research will focus on research—building on studies to date at Johns Hopkins on the effects of psilocybin in over 350 study participants—and this fall will publish a new study on the use of psychedelics in treating depression.
—Mary Carpenter For more of Mary Carpenter’s well-being posts, click here.
EARLIER TODAY I had foot surgery. Well, more like a procedure on my foot that involved it being cut with a sharp tool and bandaged to stop the bleeding afterward. It was a biopsy for a suspicious mole, and you know those are not to be trusted. The whole thing took maybe three minutes, but I have worried about it for the past five weeks. This is just plain stupid. So yes, I am calling myself stupid.
It’s just that when I went to the dermatologist last time and he spotted the thing, nestled cosily between two toes to avoid being seen, he set up today’s appointment and added, “It’s probably nothing but we need to check it out. It might hurt a little.” So of course my brain filtered out the part about it probably being nothing and went with the fact that it would hurt. Maybe. A little. Still, whenever I flashed on the upcoming appointment, that’s what I thought of.
So here’s my advice to doctors: Don’t say scary shit! Just say, “It’s nothing, don’t give it another thought.” Jeeze, what do they teach these kids in med school anyway?
DO YOU sit up straighter, feel smarter, more alert, confident when you like what you’re wearing and think you look good? Does your mood dampen if you don’t? Even if you’re only enjoying a late-morning coffee in your pjs with your partner and/or a couple of close friends? I ask because a friend recently sent me an e-mail asking for alternatives to her serviceable but dull, gray jersey bathrobe that she’s wearing a lot and “getting sick of.” Her question made me consider my own a.m. attire—a ratty robe and/or my husband’s old undershirt and a pair of pajama pants. Of course, there’s no need to dress up for morning joe but if you rachet up that look a little, it just might motivate you for the rest of the day and for whatever that may bring.
Below, a baker’s dozen of caftans and robes for morning coffee and beyond.
—Janet Kelly
LEFT: For glamour girls, Figue’s Eliza Cotton Embroidered Caftan ($545, Moda Operandi) with playful pompoms at the hem will channel your inner movie star from morning ’til night. CENTER: We can see going wild over this Soleia Leopard Print Cream cotton robe ($249.17, Desmond & Dempsey). Practically speaking, it’s not bulky and it’s washable. Two front pockets stash your sundries and loops at the back hold the tie in place. FYI: Matching pajama pants are $124.35. RIGHT: Love the gorgeous color of this All-Cotton Block Print kimono ($39.99, Etsy). Made in India, it will take a few weeks to ship, but this light-as-air bathrobe should be worth the wait.
LEFT: Natori’s Yukata Robe ($68) is no longer available, sorry. We suggest this Cyprus Robe ($160) in malibu blue for an equally vibrant pop of color. RIGHT: The San Francisco Kim + Ono (get it?) is a family-run company specializing in silk and charmeuse botanical print kimonos; each features an original pattern that’s first sketched by hand and then saturated in rich watercolors using a traditional paintbrush. The elegant and functional Washable Silk Yuri Kimono Robe is $220.
LEFT: How cozy does this relaxed-fitting Hooded Cotton-Terry Bathrobe ($168, Matches Fashion) look?! Snuggle into it after a dip into the ocean or when you’re sitting around a fire pit this fall. Danish label Tekla Fabrics uses extra-thick fiber terrycloth for softness and absorbency. CENTER: Sleepy Jones was established in 2013 by Andy Spade who, inspired by the lifestyles of artists, created a collection of comfortable sleepwear, loungewear and not-quite-ready-to-wear for men and women. This Silk Marianne Robe (final sale, $159) that drapes mid-calf could be your morning uniform for coffee, etc. RIGHT: Recliner’s “Sleeping Pills” Print Silk Kimono Robe ($156 with SLEEPCOOL, ending August 31) is a hoot. It also rolls up neat and small, so packing it up for a sleepover is a dream. Also, 95% of Recliner products are biodegradable and carbon neutral.
LEFT: According to the V&A Museum website, patchwork is “a way of using up scraps of fabrics or of extending the working life of clothing.” With sustainable fashion becoming more popular, it’s not surprising the technique is on trend this year. And, it’s the patchwork that provides the charm on this Kasey Kimono Robe ($128, Anthropologie). Wear as a robe on its own or over jeans when you’re out and about. RIGHT: Inspired by the techniques of the weavers in the Indian village she was born in, Rujuta Sheth launched her bohemian-inspired collection in 2014, mixing traditional craftsmanship with modern silhouettes. Each piece is crafted with eco-friendly materials and dyes. Her bright and cheery Marley Caftan ($198) will make your morning and then your day.
LEFT: Hanro cotton feels luxuriously silky on the skin. If you’re looking for timeless and classic, this Najuma Robe ($298) with floral embroidery on the cuff has your name on it. Besides this pale pink, it’s also available in midnight blue. CENTER: Plush and comfy with character is how I’d describe Natori’s Leopard-Print Faux Fur Long Robe ($130, Neiman Marcus). If you spill coffee on it, no one will notice! RIGHT: Wouldn’t it be nice to have a chalet in the mountains to wear this open-front Kantha Robe ($128, Sundance Catalog), but it’s not a requirement. It’s made from the pieces of an artisan-made quilt.
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“I LOVE you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Forgive me.”
“Forget it.”
Please don’t say those things to me. Like the dollar, they have lost their value due to overuse. How happy should I be to hear that you love me when you also love hamburgers, Niagara Falls, pizza, The Three Stooges, your golf buddies, hiking, Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream and the Red Sox?
How convinced am I that you’re sorry you hurt me when you are also sorry that your modem is dead, or that you went off your diet or had a flat tire on the way to work, or because you lost your favorite hat or ate the last of the chili, and especially because your cat killed a squirrel before breakfast?
“Forgive me” is what I heard you say to the stranger in the supermarket when your cart hit her heel, and to the clerk at the convenience store when you gave him the wrong credit card, and to the guy you accidentally cut ahead of at the checkout in L. L. Bean’s last week, so please don’t say it to me after you have shattered my heart into a pile of shards. I’ll say “forget it,” but I promise you—I won’t.
Frequently called our sixth sense, proprioception is important for balance, which matters a lot as we age. If you missed this post, originally published Sept. 9, 2019, here it is again.
THESENSE of where our bodies are in space depends on receptors in the joints and elsewhere that record the position of body parts in relation to one another. Proprioception is the ability to know without looking if one arm is above the head or hanging by the side of the body.
Information about proprioception also comes from receptors in the skin that respond to stimuli, such as pressure, temperature, vibrations and pain. And visual and auditory input helps pinpoint the body’s position relative to surrounding objects and the horizon, and to environmental sounds.
Proprioceptive feedback is essential for controlled movement. For a man with diminished proprioception following a severe infection, “his limbs moved, but he had no control over them. He felt disembodied, as if he was floating in air.”
Most proprioception assessments involve removing vision—with eyes closed or in a dark room: In the “finger-nose test,” touch your forefinger to your nose; in the “thumb-finding test,” touch the tips of your thumbs together. Or ask another person to move your big toe up or down and tell them which way they have moved it.
Poor proprioception can explain the clumsiness of kids during a growth spurt who haven’t yet adjusted to their new bodies. It can also be why someone stumbles on uneven ground or misses a nearby wastebasket when tossing trash. The responsiveness of “proprioceptors” can decline with age, also with injury and neuropathy.
Because proprioception is a relatively new focus of scientific attention, confusion exists about the role it plays in movement—notably in contrast to kinesthesia, usually defined as sensing the movement of the body in space.
Another issue is the relative role of the receptors in thousands of nerve endings in the feet compared with those of proprioceptors located in muscle spindles (also called stretch receptors) that sense changes in muscle length throughout the body.
Proprioception contributes to balance—as do vision and, most importantly, the vestibular system, beginning with movement of fluid in the inner ear. With age comes greater reliance on the visual system, which operates the most slowly—causing people to feel shaky, begin to mistrust their balance and become more sedentary, leading to less use of sensory information and worsening balance.
Also called the sixth sense, proprioception can be the reason that sitting on a hard, straight-backed chair or walking with “minimalist” shoes (thin-soled athletic shoes, aiming to be as close to barefoot as a shoe can be) helps some people with the sensory input they need for better balance and posture.
But ongoing debate rages over the shoe issue: whether minimalist shoes improve proprioception enough to offset the risk of injury due to harder or poorly placed impact with the ground—although structured, cushioned shoes do not appear to prevent injuries. On the other hand, people struggling with imbalance and specific foot problems might need more supportive shoes.
Walking in minimalist shoes has the different advantage of improving foot muscle size and strength, which can help with absorbing impact while running and with preventing injuries like plantar fasciitis and shin splints.
In a Brigham Young and Harvard Medical School study of runners wearing minimalist shoes compared to those doing foot-strengthening exercises and to a control group, the first two groups had similar increases in foot muscle size and strength. But the minimalist-shoe wearers made these gains while at the same time getting in their daily run.
“Both kinds of shoes have some risks associated with them,” writes Mayo Clinic sports medicine specialist Edward Laskowski. For those trying minimalist shoes, introducing them gradually and not wearing them exclusively can help avoid the injuries that occurred when these shoes were introduced.
Exercises to improve proprioception include those involving active movement against pressure, as in weight-bearing activities, and balance exercises done standing on unstable surfaces like an exercise ball.
Most helpful of all, though, can be any activity done “without visual feedback,” such as standing on one foot and walking heel-to-toe along a straight line, as well as any of those done in the proprioception assessment tests.
—Mary Carpenter
Every Tuesday, well-being editor Mary Carpenter reports on health news you can use.
I MAY have enemies, but if so they have not shown themselves. Except for one, and it’s a big one, and so far unconquerable. It’s not a being, human or otherwise, but a feeling. It’s Fear. As we all know, Fear is quite popular. Most people have cowered beneath it —or him or her, not sure what pronouns it goes by—at one time or another. Usually it just makes me uncomfortable in certain situations, like on an airplane, or keeps me from getting a good night’s sleep. But this time it has greatly altered plans I was excited about.
At the end of August, my husband and I were going to spend a week on Monhegan Island, 12 miles off the coast of Maine in the Atlantic Ocean. We rented a tiny two-room cabin atop the highest point of the island, affording spectacular views and a strenuous hike up and down into town. We were looking forward to it until a friend of mine, who happens to be a medical professional, reminded me that there are no doctors or nurses on the island, in fact no medical care of any kind. What would I do if I felt sick, like when I had my heart attack three years ago, or if my blood pressure spiked in the middle of the night?
I shrugged off her comments, but they invaded my dreams that night and have been rattling around my brain ever since. A little research revealed that A, an artist exactly my age died there of a heart attack two years ago and B, in the event of an emergency a Life Flight helicopter would be summoned and I would be flown to the closest hospital on the mainland. Hey, what fun! (No.)
So Fear won out, and I canceled the reservation and instead we are going somewhere equally beautiful on the mainland within a reasonable ambulance drive to a hospital. I’m not proud, but I am relieved. Maybe in my next life I will conquer that particular enemy, but for now I am relatively confident that my next life won’t start while I’m on vacation at the end of this month.
WHEN OUR super-smart friend and former Washington Post colleague Jura Koncius suggests we write about something, we listen up. Last week she sent us an email about her search for denim boyfriend shirts. “I want new [ones]. Polo had the perfect ones a couple years ago in their outlets but now gone. Hard to find them! I hear Ina Garten’s has hers custom made!”
The very next day my family from Connecticut arrived, refugees from last week’s tropical storm, which left them with no electricity, WiFi or water in their home. My daughter-in-law happened to be wearing a denim shirt, which she reminded me we both had bought several years ago at J. Crew. She says she often wears hers over a T-shirt or for an evening walk on the beach near her house. Yesterday, dressing up a little for her morning Zoom conference call, she wore a navy sleeveless Z Supply Reverie dress and threw her denim shirt over her shoulders for a functional, comfortable, work-appropriate look.
First Jura, then my daughter-in-law. This must be a message to me to look for a replacement for my own worn-out—denim, boyfriend, work shirt—whatever you want to call it. And share my findings. So, below, nine different chambray tops to wear on their own, over a tank top dress, with jeans or come fall and later, with leggings as your go-to uniform. Some are traditional button-downs with patch pockets; other have stand-up collars, balloon sleeves, ruffles or stripes.
P.S. Ina, we love you, but no custom-tailored ones required.
—Janet Kelly
LEFT: Boden’s Elsie Denim Top—Mid Vintage ($95) veers from the traditional with full sleeves, puffed shoulders, a standup collar and slightly fitted silhouette. It falls slightly below the hip so you can easily wear over a pair of jeans. RIGHT: What else to expect from Danish designer Ganni but a fun take on a wardrobe staple? You can channel your inner cowgirl with this Studded Organic Cotton Denim Shirt ($295, Matches Fashion), a Western-inspired denim blouse with elbow-length balloon sleeves and silver-studded shoulders.
LEFT: Although it’s not in chambray, South Street Linen’s oversize top qualifies as a great Boyfriend Shirt ($229). It comes in a slew of colors, but we’re partial to this chicory blue. On its own or over a tank top or tee, the shirt you’ll want to have with you on a summer evening out. RIGHT: Founded by two friends from Paris, Barbara and Sharon, Ba&Sh updates the chambray shirt with feminine blouse details: gathered sleeves for fullness and a collar with a Victorian-inspired ruffle. The mother-of-pearl snap buttons on the Axelle Denim Shirt ($235) add a cowgirl touch.
LEFT: Not too tight, not too loose, J. Crew’s Everyday Chambray Shirt ($78) is the brand’s latest style iteration. Wash it, then iron with starch for a more buttoned-up look. CENTER: Polo Ralph Lauren’s indigo-dyed, cotton twill Custom Fit Denim Shirt ($128) is more form-fitting than the usual suspects. Go for a Western ranch hand vibe with a big silver belt and dark-wash jeans. RIGHT: I like the light wash on Madewell’s Chambray Classic Ex BF Button Down Shirt ($72) for a change of pace that just might attract your next boyfriend. Apparently other customers are thinking the same—the only size left is XXL.
LEFT: The racing stripes on Lisa Todd’s On Track Side-Striped Denim Shirt ($225, Neiman Marcus) give this basic new interest and when paired with leopard leggings, well, we approve of the unexpected combo. RIGHT: Levi’s Essential Western Shirt ($69.50) is available in light wash blue, but we like it in black, paired with light charcoal jeans.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
BY NOW (age 74) I should have learned a lot of useful information about how to live a successful life. I could die at any moment, and so the wisdom I have will die with me unless I write it down and offer it to my readers, most especially my own son who never reads this blog but surely will after I’m dead and feel sorry he didn’t when I was alive. Oh well, can’t change that. Anyway, as I have done before, I will now list the things that are essential to enjoying this precious and fleeting time we have each been given here on Earth.
1. Take care of your body; it is the vehicle you wake up in every day and spend all your time inside. If you ruin it by making it sick, you will suffer greatly and miss out on much of the good stuff in life. This means eat well, exercise often and never knowingly ingest poisons. (For a list of poisons, see below).
2. Avoid toxic relationships. It’s so much better to go through life alone than stuck with people who drain your spirit by constantly criticizing your every move, denigrating your ideas and generally making you feel like an idiot, although I do maintain that nobody can make you feel like an idiot except yourself.
3. Learn how to control your thoughts. As thoughts are mere fantasy, they often run amok and destroy that desired state of grace called “peace of mind.” Controlling them can be achieved in many ways, although I have found that having a mantra and repeating it when your thoughts turn negative does the trick.
4. Drink your coffee black. If not you will waste valuable time, adding up to days or even weeks over the course of your lifetime, running out of cream, or when dining out trying to find cream that isn’t spoiled, or having to use that powdered coffee “whitener” or who knows what else. This is especially true for foreign travel. Just drink the damn coffee as God intended!
5. And speaking of God, belief in a Higher Power makes the whole thing so much easier to bear.
Poisons:
cotton candy
funnel cake
blueberry bagels
deep-fried chocolate covered Oreos
laundry pods
candy apples
caramel apples
peanut brittle
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream
cinnamon buns
white bread
Cheetos
hot dogs
lead paint
cigarettes
IT MAY be August, but there’s plenty of summer still left for wearing breezy tops, Katherine Hepburn-inspired wide-leg pants, retro sunnies, whimsical and practical sneakers and playful pjs. Even if you’re not straying far from home, here are some spirit-lifting suggestions to add to your WFH wardrobe.
—Janet Kelly
LEFT: Pink pants make me smile. This Hepburn High-Rise Wide Leg pair from DL 1961 ($199) are high-rise and fitted through the waist and backside; they flare outward to a wide leg that hits just above the ankle. I’d pair them with a cropped (not midriff-baring) top and flats or sneakers. ABOVE RIGHT: Ever since I spotted a particular style of Persol sunglasses in a Pittsburgh airport shop more than a year ago, I’ve lusted after them. These No Lurking Sunglasses ($79, Shopbop) from Le Specs come close, and they’re about one-third of the price. BELOW RIGHT: I’m usually not a fan of florals anywhere on my body, but this airy Brooklyn Shirt ($235, Shopbop) with its three-quarter balloon sleeves and contrast print piping could make me change my mind.
LEFT: Last weekend my daughter-in-law was wearing a white Comme Ci Comme Ca T-Shirt ($20.48, Etsy). I admired how equal parts cool and relaxed she looked as she worked from home. RIGHT: I can envision swaggering around—comfortably—like Kate (Hepburn) in Vince’s Cropped Wide Pant ($159), a blend of 69 percent linen and 31 percent polyester. Not only are they on sale now but I’d be wearing these bottoms right into fall.
LEFT: I’m, er, wild about Printfresh’s cotton poplin Bagheera Robe ($128). Hand-screen-printed and sewn in Jaipur by artisans, it’s the right length (just above the ankle) and has pockets, which would come in handy for stashing a cell phone while you’re swanning around the house. RIGHT: I’ve always loved the zebras on Scalamandre’s wallpaper and fabrics. Now if I had deep pockets, I could wear similar prancing black-and-white striped animals on Olivia von Halle’s ultra-luxe silk Lila Pajama Set ($490, Shopbop). A splurge-y treat to be sure. But maybe if I amortize … .
ABOVE LEFT: Months ago when I was still going to the gym, I noticed a woman wearing these OnCloud ($129.99, Zappos) running shoes. My note to self at the time was they looked both chic and comfortable. Then one of my more athletic friends confirmed they were super light and had plenty of cushion—for walking every day—or for working out at the gym whenever I felt safe to return. ABOVE, MIDDLE: Thanks to WarbyParker, the eyeglass business has gotten the message—most of us are not willing to spend a jillion on eyewear. According to its website, Raen’s mission is to create quality glasses at accessible prices. I spotted their retro Norie Cat-eye Sunglasses ($135) in honey and bottle green and am smitten. They come with UVA/UVB protection but are not polarized. For that, I’d have to ratchet up a notch. ABOVE, BELOW: How cute are these Superga Tie-Dye Denim Sneakers($52.50, Shopbop)! Count me sold. RIGHT: The Wall Street Journal recently debated whether anyone but Rihanna should wear yellow. But why should the pop star have all the fun? Besides its flattering, feminine silhouette, I suspect this lemony Short Sleeve Sophie Eyelet Top($275, Shopbop) with puff sleeves, cutout details and waist-defining darts could easily cure a case of crankiness.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
WE HAVE a new pet, and I am not happy about it. Although somewhat furry, it isn’t cuddly, snuggly or cute. It doesn’t follow commands and will never fetch the paper, or my slippers, or even its own toy. That’s because it’s a spider—a horrible, scary, hideous and outrageously large monster that set up housekeeping on our side deck, within steps of our hot tub, about one month ago and is apparently quite content to live out its life there, spinning intricate webs which it eats every night and ultimately having hideous little spider babies that will grow up to torment other poor souls like me.
