1. CULTURE
True Crime junkies have probably already tuned in, but Elizabeth Smart just launched a new podcast called The Survivor Files! Rather than just recounting what happened, she walks guests through their experience beat by beat so listeners can truly understand the person…not just the story. As a survivor herself she understands what it feels like to be on the receiving end of questions like “why didn’t you run” or “why didn’t you scream.” Having a survivor tell their own story changes the dynamic entirely, and shifts the focus to healing and resilience!
2. INDUSTRY
If you’ve noticed your favorite products just aren’t as good as they used to be, you’re not the only one! A researcher went down a rabbit hole when shopping for a new backpack, and realized that North Face, JanSport, and Eastpak are all owned by the same corporation. He kept digging and found the same pattern across cookware, shoes, clothing, and tools! You know the story: beloved independent brands get acquired by big conglomerates or private equity, then the quality quietly erodes as they try to maximize shareholder returns. Ugh. Apparently three quarters of Americans reported a quality or service issue with a consumer product in 2025 — double the rate from 1976! The researcher actually built a database called Worse on Purpose that ranks brands based on their corporate ownerships…bookmarking immediately!
3. FASHION
Fall 2026 trends are starting to trickle in, and this Vogue breakdown is a great place to start if you’re thinking about what to invest in this season! A few themes I’m taking note of: the “updated lady” silhouette (think softened suiting, sculptural blazers, and sloped waists), art deco inspo (like fringe, velvet, gloves, and opulent evening bags), and playful proportions (dramatic hemlines and billowy pants). Lots of fall fashion to be excited about, but also an opportunity to go through your wardrobe and think about new and creative ways to style items you already have!
4. CELEBRITY
Like so many of you, I was saddened to hear about Dolly Parton’s passing this week. While there’s been a lot of coverage on her music and fashion, this piece on her philanthropic legacy is a beautiful tribute to another side of her. The numbers are staggering: her Imagination Library has distributed 305 million books to children since 1995, she gave $12.5 million to families displaced by the 2016 Smoky Mountain fires, and she donated $1 million to early Covid vaccine research at Vanderbilt (which one researcher credits with allowing them to quickly scale up work when they needed it the most)! Perhaps most profoundly, this all was deeply personal to her and rooted in her own experience growing up poor in Tennessee with a father who couldn’t read. She never forgot where she came from, and spent decades quietly making sure others had what she didn’t. RIP to a true icon!
5. HEALTH
This essay written by a 58-year-old who set a goal of running a 5-minute mile is one of the most motivating things I’ve read this week (and not just because of the running!) The deeper point is about the psychology of declaring your goals, and how when you publicly share a goal you create something to lose! Apparently the fear of loss is psychologically more powerful than the prospect of gain, so it can become a very powerful motivator. If there’s something you want to achieve, share it with your friends or family — say it out loud, and not only will you better motivate yourself but you’ll have a support system as you work to achieve it! (P.S. If you’re curious, the author didn’t end up hitting the 5-minute mark but he did dramatically improve his time!)
6. DESIGN
This Architectural Digest profile of Annie Meyers-Shyer and her LA home is such a fun read! (Yes, she’s the daughter of Nancy Meyers so the whole thing feels like it was written specifically for lovers of the Nancy Meyers aesthetic!) Annie’s mother-in-law gifted the family her 1940s Beverly Hills home when she moved to Montecito, and Annie spent two years renovating and documenting everything on Instagram! Her account sort of blew up overnight, and she turned the whole experience into a book called This Oak House. If you already follow ThisOakHouse on IG you’ll love the piece, and if you don’t, consider this your introduction!
+ WHAT I’M EYEING
SHADES OF GREY: COAT // SUEDE CLUTCH // SUEDE HALTER MIDI DRESS // BLAZER // SUEDE WOVEN CROSSBODY BAG // MULES // EARRINGS // SWEATER // LEATHER BAG // SLINGBACKS // BOOTS // OSTRICH-EFFECT CLUTCH
+ END OF WEEK EXTRAS
- The best West Village restaurants in NYC.
- The boots I’m most excited to pull out come fall (my most worn of fall 2025)!
- Obsessed with the color of this bucket bag.
- Another structural blazer I’m eying for cooler temps.
- Busy Philipps had brain surgery on a tumor identified by a Prenuvo scan…so, so grateful I got one last year.
- The color of this dress feels perfect for early fall, especially if you live somewhere hot.
- A moment for this fun western inspired blouse!
- The botox-mimicking cream I recently added to my nighttime routine!
- Still plenty of time left to wear this fun mini dress.
- Gorgeous fall earrings.
- A new trailer for Gilded Age season 4 just dropped!
- This + leggings and sneakers would be perfect for morning walks with Reeses.
- A really good everyday shoulder bag, if you’re on the hunt.
- The tassel details on this dress are fabulous!
- What happens when your content ends up on the wrong side of the internet!
