What I read:
I’m taking a class called Writing Cultural Criticism, and this memoir was our summer reading. I love a good coming-of-age story, and Hua Hsu articulates a lot of my own feelings about growing up that I previously felt eluded words. He is also so gifted at weaving mind-expanding theory and criticism into his prose without skipping a beat or growing tedious.
“Hua Hsu’s Stay True is a coming-of-age memoir that brings music, memory, identity, and grief into a mid-1990s tableau of indie-pop mixtapes, late-night record stores, and xeroxed zines” - Pitchfork
This Vogue article about Copy, the first AI-generated fashion magazine.
^This freaks me out. “Girl Trends” and the re-packaging of womanhood. Girl dinner, hot girl walks, etc…
Karlie Kloss bought I-D??? She’s making a name for herself in the media industry after already partnering with Bustle to buy W Mag.
What I listened to:
The Alabama Shakes. Their warbling sends my mind to a quieter place.
Debut album Taylor, which also sends me to a simpler place/time: the first grade, when I watched the Our Song music video on repeat and fantasized about riding shotgun with my hair undone in the front seat of a teenage boy’s convertible. I just rewatched the video to reminisce about the good old days, and remembered how much I miss Taylor’s southern drawl.
“Anna Weyant: Facing Criticism and Sexism in the Art World” from Going Mental."
I’ve been curious about Anna Weyant ever since I accidentally mistook her work for that of John Currin, but I didn’t get around to doing my digging until now. All I knew about her was a) She is gorgeous and makes gorgeous art b) She is dating Larry Gagosian, and for this reason has gotten a lot of bad press for being an art world “nepo baby” c) She is the youngest person to be signed to Gagosian. Because of her ties to Larry, I was definitely skeptical about her legitimacy and definitely didn’t assume to enjoy listening to her so much and end up respecting her SO much. But she is HILARIOUS and humble - actually, she is self-deprecating to a fault. I now feel really guilty for questioning her credibility because the episode talks about how people in the art world don’t take her seriously because she is “young, blonde, and hot.” She talks about having a meltdown after taking shrooms at the Met and how her mood is comparable to that of Eeyore. I can’t tell if I want to be her or be her best friend.
“Anyone who factors the artist’s dating life into her odds of success is being misogynist.” Facts.
It’s even more adorable that Weyant and Eileen have become BFFs in real life, ever since a mutual friend introduced them because he knew that Weyant would want to paint Eileen. Here’s the painting:
“The Infrastructure of Community” from How to Talk to People
If you love Blank Street coffee, give this a listen. I want to write a piece on Blank Street vs. third spaces soon. Personally, I’m all about third spaces and cute reading nooks, BUTTTT there is something about Blank Street’s efficiency that just does it for me. I think I love American efficiency more than I love a slow European lifestyle. And I grew up in Europe.
“Noah Kahan - Stick Season” from Song Exploder
I can’t get enough of Noah Kahan. There’s something undeniably sexy about a man who sings about therapy and taking his meds. This lyric: So I took my medication, and I poured my trauma out / On some sad-eyed middle-aged man’s overpriced new leather couch. It doesn’t get much more Gen-Z than this.
What I wanted to buy:
Ulla Johnson gold riding boots
Dragon Diffusion dupe bag from Etsy
This reformation dress. I don’t have an upcoming occasion but it reminds me of something Rachel wore in Friends.
This jacket from Sea NY. Also this puffer coat.
A fisherman jacket. There’s a lot of vintage RL ones on Etsy, Ebay, and poshmark. I’ve also been eyeing the pricier Fay 4-ganci and 3-ganci ones.
The Khaite x The Row sunglasses
Something from eyewasouls malibu. I definitely gravitate towards 70s inspired prints and silhouettes - I love florals and flares, but not in a Daisy Jones, costumey way- and this brand looks like it would be sexy and flattering.
What I actually did buy:
Coucou intimates long cami in white and in black
These are the best tanks - cheaper alternative to Pretties Venice, and imo, better quality. The long ones are definitely still cropped, I think the cropped ones are just SUPER cropped.
What I watched:
Gossip girl. I’m re-watching it for the first time since I initially watched it in the sixth grade. A lot of the jokes went over my head the first time, and my now-refined tastes allow me to appreciate IYKYK elements like the Marilyn Minter photograph in Serena’s bedroom and the superabundance of Birkins. Apparently the show partnered with an art fund to bring hot contemporary art to their screens…
Jurassic Park. My senior seminar for the English major is called American Films of the 90s, and my professor is one of the coolest people I’ve ever met. She’s an expert on stoner films - think Dude, Where’s my Car?, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Dazed and Confused. I took a class with her freshman year and wrote a paper about Creed (yes, the Rocky sequel/blockbuster that you’re thinking about).
What I added to my lists:
Pre-ordered the Lou Reed biography that comes out in October.
Talking at Night by Claire Daverley. Found it on Booktok and apparently it gives Normal People a run for its money.
I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK TO COME OUT: Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet by Taylor Lorenz
Aftersun. My recent 12-hour stint in Ireland sent me into a Paul Mescal frenzy.
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
Congratulations! You now know how I spend my free time. To answer your next question, my screen time: 11 hours a day on average. I can’t tell whether that’s impressive or repulsive.
Simply iconic 🙌🙌
YES!!! Amazing read