random light reading
like, really random.
I had a more serious post scheduled for today, but I know I’m in no state at this point in the year to read something serious, so instead I’m sharing some random things I’ve been reading, listening to, using, buying, and thinking about lately.
’s first podcast episode blew my mind, and that’s coming from someone who works with clothes for a living.I save this body wash to use in the winter (if I used it all year it wouldn’t feel as special! also it’s pricey) because its lemony scent is so bright and summery and I can pretend it’s the height of summer instead of cold and grey. The hand creme is a great (expensive) stocking stuffer.
I really love thrifting little presents for Hanukkah and stocking stuffers. Most of that stuff seems to end up in the trash quickly and I’d rather trash secondhand stuff than new. The kids don’t really care that much, it’s just the excitement of the gifts in the moment that they love. If your kids are older, you mileage may vary.
For years, my business came mostly from SEO because I had the top result for the Google search “St. Louis personal stylist”. During and since the pandemic, I started working only virtually and now my clients live all over the world, which I could not love more. For a few years, most business came from Instagram or though Virginia. Lately, most of my clarity calls are from people who’ve googled virtual or remote personal stylist, a search I hadn’t even been putting much effort into since I figured I’d never come up high enough in those search terms. So basically, if you’re a business owner, know that your referral sources can shift and don’t give up on SEO. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Speaking of business, these were my most popular posts on Instagram this year:
and
Very very random (but that’s what this whole post is about), but this is my favorite brand of pens. They’re all I use. If I use a clumpy gloppy ballpoint, I shudder. I’ve gotten away from bullet journaling, but for years, using these notebooks with those pens was delightful.
On TikTok, I had two videos go viral:
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and this one which annoyingly will not embed, both of which resulted from my friend texting me with “have you SEEN this!?”. Thanks, Rachel.
Does anyone have a connection to Glennon Doyle? I’m a big fan and I hear her talking about her recovery and her shifting body and I just desperately want to have a conversation with her about the connection between those things and her clothing. Put it out into the universe and all that…
Fashion magazines are endlessly problematic, but I will always be interested in the art they create and how they create it. The Vogue podcast The Run-Through has so much inside baseball info that I’ve nerded out on. And one of the hosts is Murphy Brown’s daughter! Two episodes I loved are the interview with Jenna Lyons (have loved loved loved her profile rising again and I even watched a housewives show for her, although I did fast forward through any scene without her) and the one with one of my favorite designers Maria Cornejo (I just bought one of her dresses secondhand and
also interviewed her recently).
If you want to spend some of your holiday downtime thinking about or working on your wardrobe, check out my recorded style workshops and DIY closet editing course (use coupon code UNFLATTERING for 25% off any of these). I’ll also be starting a new round of my group course, Making Space in January. I’d love to have you!
I’ll be traveling and spending time with family for the next few weeks, but I’ll return on January 9th with
’s style story! It’s such a good one, you should probably just go ahead and become a paid subscriber so you can see her wardrobe picks in the bonus content 😉 Here’s a little photo teaser:
I’m going to leave comments open to everyone on this post so that you can see how fun it is to participate! For the most part, only paid subscribers have the ability to comment - join us now for 20% off!
I hope everyone has a restful holiday! ✨✨✨
This was so much fun to read. Thanks and happy holidays!
I read this post and then read Virginia Sole-Smith. This is what I posted to Virginia in response to her answer to a question about being fat, childless, and feeling worthless. " I read this before my alarm rang to tell me it was time for therapy. Without knowing that I was about to do so, I said "I need to talk about my disordered eating and dysmorphia." Never had I owned either one of those. I surprised my therapist as much as I surprised myself. Suffice it to say, there's a lot to unpack. This will be a lengthy ongoing discussion for which I must say thank you to you, Virginia, and also to Dacy Gillespie for bringing it to my conscious self." So I am showing up today paying close attention to what happens here, thanking all of you for helping me get here. My work continues. [And that's also my favorite pen.]