Introducing Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T!
It’s weekly REPORT time! I usually do these on my Instagram Close Friends, but I think it’ll be nice to have a platform for more longform commentary. It’s an idea I got off Tiktok and did over winter break last year because I didn’t have enough going on in my life for weekly Ins and Outs. REPORT stands for Reading, Eating, Playing, Obsessing, Recommending and Treating. Enjoy!
READING
Life hack: You can read any article online that has a paywall by putting it into archive.ph. It’s a great resource and you avoid having to subscribe or pay for a ton of websites.
Producing Succession as a non-American: Succession is one of my favorite shows of all time. I want to rewatch it, but I think I’m still recovering from the unrelenting agony, and exquisitely written television, that was season 4. I always forget Jesse Armstrong isn’t American and didn’t even think about how that impacts his perspective. In this article, he talks about whether it’s ethical, fair, moral, culturally appropriate etc. for non-US writers to create shows set in the US, especially with the nuances of American culture and a country currently so fractured. Jesse makes the argument that this a necessary check. “America is everywhere- the global champ. And everyone knows you’re allowed to have a pop at the champ.” My rebuttal to that is since it’s happening in fictionalized, fantasized form, can the “check” be impactful if the blows are on screen and not in real life? He talks about the importance of tone, which I think he navigates so well in the show, and emphasizes research as being the antidote to arrogance. When referring to the outcome of the election in season 4, Jesse said “I felt it was not within our purview to declare a victor and predict a direction for the US. It was too much of a judgement, one I didn’t feel was appropriate for us to give. Not when so much hangs in the balance.” Recommend if you are as obsessed with Succession as I am.
Tiktok’s impact on consumerism: Starting off, I disagree with the opinion that there was no creativity in the first Louis Vuitton show Pharell did; it’s not a hill I’m willing to die on but there were a couple moments that were exciting enough to warrant some hype. I also disagree with “fashion is… becoming a spectacle in itself.” I think fashion has always had theatrical and gimmicky elements. Nowadays, the challenge is deciphering if these elements are being used to enhance the collection or as a cover for a weak offering. It hurt to hear that Saltburn received “lukewarm critical reception” because I live in a Saltburn-obsessed bubble but that’s neither here nor there. I’m glad they mentioned the Saltburn inspired goods being created by small businesses miles ahead of larger companies- it took Lush forever to create a Saltburn “bathwater” candle. All in all, this article provides a decent view of how consumers hated being marketed to until we got involved and how companies are now desperately vying for consumer attention, especially through Tiktok. We, the people, have recognized our power and how drastically we can shift the culture. We aren’t afraid to play into it when brands come knocking and we’re learning how to wield this power to get what we want, therefore shattering the previous illusion that companies dictate what is popular. Solid read.
EATING
1. Pasta salad: I am pasta’s number one fan but with the Houston humidity in the summer, sometimes a warm pasta is not the vibe. Pasta salad is the perfect mix of comfort and cool. I usually don’t use a recipe and play it by ear. My favorite combination as of late is shell shaped pasta (yes shape matters) with salami, tomato, mozzarella, and fresh parsley. The dressing is a simple mix of olive oil, red wine vinegar, balsamic, fresh garlic, salt, pepper and lemon juice. I also made a pasta salad earlier this spring with orzo, goat cheese and asparagus that was fantastic.
2. Cherries: It’s cherry season! Top 3 favorite fruits and now is the best time to eat them. A few weeks ago, my mom and I took a short detour to a fruit stand when we were driving from Sacramento to San Jose because of a sign that said $1.99/pound for cherries. Best decision we’ve ever made. Go eat cherries now!!!
3. Iced black tea with lemon and sugar: Simple but delicious. My summer alternative to lemonade.
PLAYING
1. Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast: I just started listening to this podcast, but I loved the episode with Jake Shane. It was a lighthearted and endearing listen, super train of thought which I’m a fan of. They’re not trying too hard which I often find the fault of podcasts I listen to and abandon.
OBSESSING
1. Paris vlogs: I’ve been very Paris emo recently- like going through my archived Close Friends stories where I posted every second of my day and tearing up emo. To curb my sadness, I’ve been watching vlogs of people in Paris. I try to find accounts of people who live there, and not people visiting, and videos focusing on daily life since I’ve been missing a lot of the little things about the city. I’ll link a few videos I liked below!
settling into life in paris (youtube.com)
The Only Pizza in Paris - Oobatz - YouTube
people watching in Paris (a week in my life) (youtube.com)
How to Style Capris Pants Like a Parisian Girl in 2024 (youtube.com)
48 hours in paris spent like a local | travel guide! (youtube.com)
2. Little cotton/bloomer shorts: In all honesty, I only like little shorts when I’m wearing them with tall boots. Otherwise, I feel like my already short torso is reduced to two inches and then I feel wildly disproportionate. But cotton is breathable, a necessity for the summer, and with boots, mini shorts feel so dainty and feminine. I have one pair of little black bloomers which I love but I need more.
RECOMMENDING
1. The Cutting Room Floor: I’ve been a fan of this podcast for a few years now, but I only just now subscribed to the Patreon to get full episodes and boy is it worth it. Season 4 Episode 17 was my first full podcast listen on Patreon and it was motivating to hear that the job I want in the fashion/marketing/creative industry exists from a former Highsnobiety writer & editor. If you are interested in fashion, in any capacity, I highly, highly recommend this podcast. Recho does an amazing job and is an excellent interviewer.
2. Lush perfume in Karma: I often get compliments on how I smell, it’s something I pride myself on, and one of the two scents I’m wearing right now is Karma by Lush. The main notes are patchouli, Brazilian orange and lemongrass. It’s really warm and intoxicating but somehow not too strong. I’m about to order a new perfume from Lush called Grass which has notes of sandalwood, neroli and bergamot and is supposed to “evoke the smell of freshly cut grass, cool glasses of lemonade and long stretches of afternoon light.” While I might be in an anti-lemonade phase, that doesn’t mean this won’t be a perfect scent for the summer! I will circle back once I have it and share my thoughts.
TREATING
1. New rings: I decided last summer to only purchase high quality jewelry and since then, my jewelry collection has dwindled. I used to have at least four rings on each hand, all pretty cheaply made, and until recently, I was down to two on my left hand, both of which are silver. I ordered sterling silver, gold filled rings from Etsy, and I’m very excited about them. According to Google, gold filled is even better than gold plated because there is at least 5% gold by weight and a thicker coating of it which lasts even longer. If I had stopped buying cheap jewelry way before now, I would have such a solid quality collection. But alas.
