Make It A Merry Month
What to watch, what to wear—and read.
MAY is for horses (the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness), moms and movies (Cannes Film Festival runs through May 24). Still to come are the French Open—through May 25—and Memorial Day (May 26), the unofficial start to summer.
What I’m watching right now:
Younger
My daughter-in-law suggested I watch this seven-season series about a divorced woman in her 40s who claims she's in her 20s to get a job in NYC publishing. How protagonist Liza Moore, played by Sutton Foster, affords all her hip, expensive clothes is a mystery. Hey, suspension of disbelief. Nevertheless, I'm hooked.
What I'm looking forward to watching:
Inspired by Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel, the first season revolves around how a group of carefree, young American girls scandalize uptight British society in the 1870s. I'll be rooting for them when the second season debuts June 18.
What’s on my reading list right now:
Who Knew by Barry Diller
I've heard the rumors and read the New York magazine excerpt. Now that it's out, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this memoir that chronicles Diller's dazzling business career and his long relationship with the great Diane von Fürstenberg.
What’s in my cart right now:
Clothing
Pippa Polo I saw this top several weeks ago and loved its preppy tennis vibe. Now that it's on sale, I'm tempted. There are also a lot of flowy, feminine boho-chic tops and skirts to choose from. If you're in New York City, it's worth a visit to this pint-size store on Madison near 75th or 76th—and to the one on Nantucket.
Lace-Trim Pintuck Top Not this week, but when it gets steamy out, this cotton voile embroidered blouse with floaty sleeves will welcome in the breezes. It’s on sale at J. Crew for $69.50, down from $98.
Beauty
CeraVe Healing Ointment is more intense than a lotion, and for very dry skin, you can't beat this. Plus, it contains ceramides, which my dermatologist recommends for protecting and relieving extremely dry or cracked skin—including cuticles, elbows, heels and lips, too.
Pharmacy Finds: I love to explore European drug stores. When I tripped over the legs of a stall in a French food market and wound up in a face plant on the street, a French friend insisted I go to her local pharmacy. One of the staff there recommended I try a repair cream from Uriage that she said would prevent scarring, which it did. The ingredients include zinc oxide and hyaluronic acid and some others I'd never heard of. My German niece who lives in Berlin and is obsessed as I am by drugstores (she introduced me to Weleda) is a fan of French brand Nuxe for a body oil. I bought some.
Memorial Day Miscellany
Sandals These $24.99 flip-flops —from H&M—come in three other colors, but this is my favorite. Wear them by the beach or on the patio.
Zip-top Boat Tote Made in Maine, one tote at a time, says L.L. Bean. From $39.95 for small to $54.95 for the extra large, it will do your heavy lifting for the holiday weekend or any other time.
Schumacher's famous print animates this generously sized (70" long by 40" wide) velour towel with a cute tassel trim. It’s reduced from $158 to $79 until May 26 at Bloomingdale's.
Evo Drive Lite Gen 2 Tennis everyone. I have a similar Babolat racket that’s lightweight (9 ounces) for flexibility but still gives me power and control.
Substacks I’m loving right now:
Are You Okay? | Dr. Lucy McBride
Dr. McBride is the doctor I wish I had. When I lived in DC a decade ago, I was a patient of her then-partner, Dr. Linda Yau, but noticed Dr. McBride's warm smile and energy. In this time of 15-minute doctor appointments (that is, if you can get one), she gives understandable and practical advice for managing your own health care.
Former beauty director at O, The Oprah Magazine, Valerie Monroe pens this newsletter with the goal of changing how we think about beauty from self-criticism to self-compassion. You can also count on Val to deliver down-to-earth advice about aesthetic treatments like filler or lasers. She doesn’t promote products and doesn’t get commissions on sales, which allows her to be brutally frank. (And no, that expensive eye cream probably isn’t worth it.)
Happy we could give you and your friend a boost!
Hey guys, thanks for the shout-out! And the woman who wrote the novel the tv show Younger is based on is an old friend of mine. So a very supportive post, overall! xo