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| J Crew Striped Button-Shoulder Turtleneck |
▪ One of J. Crew‘s bestsellers from last fall is the Striped Button-Shoulder Turtleneck (solid-colored version here), a copycat of runway styles from Fall 2015. It sold out quickly when it debuted online, but has been restocked for spring in the original navy/ivory combination, along with new colorways. And it’s now on sale in all colors, and you can use code TAKE2030 for an extra 40% off. I couldn’t resist picking up a new color (“Dark Seaweed”) now that it’s only $25.79 after the additional discount.
▪ My other J. Crew sale picks (note that the code will only work on styles with prices ending in .99): Cropped Fatigue Jacket, Two-Tone Pointed-Toe Loafers, Drapey Wrap-Back Jumpsuit, The Teddy Coat in Plush Fleece, Long-Sleeve Belted Knit Dress, Lace Ruffle-Neck Top, Sophia Mules (55mm) with Glitter Heel, Résumé Dress in Stretch Ponte, and Drapey Tie-Waist Dress.
▪ “Unknown Tech Brands Aren’t Like Groceries. Don’t Just Grab Them.” (The New York Times): “That’s not to say the tech behemoths are innocent … [take] extra caution with obscure tech brands because it is something under your control.“
▪ “What Beauty Players Can Teach the Consumer Sector About Digital Disruption” (McKinsey & Company): “The beauty sector is advanced because of the way beauty-loving consumers engage with the category. For decades, they have sought out innovations, embraced the stories behind brands, and enjoyed the shopping experience, solo and with others.“
▪ “Vitamins for Your Hair, Nails, And Skin Are Everywhere on Instagram. Don’t Fall for Them.” (Vox): “Take away the shiny packaging and celebrity endorsers, though, and you’re left with products plagued by the same problems as dietary supplements: There’s no good evidence that they can deliver on the results they promise, and a lack of government oversight and clear standards puts consumers at risk … these supplements often contain multiple ingredients, and while one or two may have small studies supporting a benefit, there are no large, well-designed studies to demonstrate how they all work in tandem.“
▪ “Glossies So White: The Data That Reveals the Problem with British Magazine Covers” (The Guardian): “Of 214 covers published by the 19 bestselling glossies last year, only 20 featured a person of colour. That’s only 9.3%, although 13.7% of the UK are BAME.“
▪ “The RealReal — The Fashion Site That Sells Secondhand Gucci and Louis Vuitton — Wants To Raise a New $100 Million Investment” (Recode): “Wainwright, the founder … is currently pitching investors about raising a fresh $100 million in new funding, multiple sources have told Recode. The company has already raised more than $170 million since it launched seven years ago.“
▪ (Video Link) “Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (YouTube)
▪ “Many People Taking Antidepressants Discover They Cannot Quit” (The New York Times): “Long-term use of antidepressants is surging in the United States … Some 15.5 million Americans have been taking the medications for at least five years. The rate has almost doubled since 2010, and more than tripled since 2000. Nearly 25 million adults … have been on antidepressants for at least two years, a 60 percent increase since 2010 … Antidepressants were originally considered a short-term treatment for episodic mood problems, to be taken for six to nine months: enough to get through a crisis, and no more.“
▪ “The Murder that Shook Iceland” (The Guardian): “With a small, mostly homogenous population of 340,000 and a high degree of economic equality, Iceland is one of the world’s safest nations. It is the only NATO member without a standing army. Gun ownership is high … but the weapons are purchased for hunting rather than self-defence, and very seldom misused. Violent crime is rare. Between 2000 and 2015 there were an average of just 1.6 murders a year, with most of the perpetrators and victims young men known to each other. In 2008, there were no homicides at all. Police are not armed, and the Reykjavík force’s Instagram feed shows officers eating ice-cream, sledding and posing for selfies. The feeling of security is bolstered by Icelanders’ tendency to look out for one another, a tradition that dates back to times when close collaboration was essential to make it through the long, brutal winters.“
▪ Dresses and other one-pieces are now 30% off with code 30OFFDRESSES at Forever 21 . My picks: Polka Dot Tulip Dress (in my cart), Palm Tree Print Cami Dress (also in my cart), Heart Print Surplice Wrap Dress, Gingham Tie-Front Cami Dress, Plunging Self-Tie Chiffon Dress, Ruffled Tropical High-Low Dress, Polka Dot Ruffle Wrap Dress, and Floral Skater Dress.
▪ (After every AliExpress visit, I am often overcome with the desire to decamp to the woods for good. But maybe some of you will appreciate this rec.) “Letter of Recommendation: AliExpress” (The New York Times): “AliExpress is not a destination so much as a hobby … AliExpress taps you directly into manufacturing hubs and supply chains.“
▪ “Elastic Waistbands Are Back in Fashion at Lands’ End” (The Wall Street Journal): “The company posted a profit for the year ended in February after two years of losses. Sales in that year rose 5.3% to $1.41 billion. And the number of customers who shopped with Lands’ End for the first time jumped 30% in the fourth quarter, compared with the same period a year ago … new products customers didn’t want had crowded out best-sellers such as walking shoes, elastic waistband Starfish pants, and canvas totes … Lands’ End’s catalog has reverted to its utilitarian style with product shots and descriptive text … Lands’ End is still dependent on Sears, which has been shrinking. It operates roughly 174 shops at Sears stores, representing 11% of its overall sales.“
▪ “Bitcoin’s Hype Vanishes Just Like That: ‘We’re in the Boring Phase’” (The Wall Street Journal): “Bitcoin’s average daily trading volume this month is about 70% lower than on the most active days at the end of last year … Mainstream interest in the cryptocurrency market has diminished.“
▪ (Mute the tab; the video on top autoplayed for me.) “I Downloaded the Information That Facebook Has on Me. Yikes.” (The New York Times):”With a few clicks, I learned that about 500 advertisers … had my contact information, which could include my email address, phone number and full name. Facebook also had my entire phone book, including the number to ring my apartment buzzer. The social network had even kept a permanent record of the roughly 100 people I had deleted from my friends list over the last 14 years, including my exes.“
▪ Recently purchased: Ann Taylor Gingham Moto Jacket, Salvatore Ferragamo Jelly Ballerina Flat, and Valentino Rainbow Rockstud Bow Pump .
Have a great week, everyone!
