Women of Contradictions

The Contradictions of our 20s

This week we take a look back at life in our twenties. The highs, the lows and what we wish we knew at that age. Wear more sunscreen! Don't worry too much, but maybe worry a little. But mostly, you'll be fine, enjoy your youth! Veronica's Three Things:  1) Taking a holistic approach to anti-aging [https://www.ft.com/content/a77dbb39-9aef-4da4-b3eb-f17a01ddb2ff]  Justine Bateman's book, Face [https://www.amazon.com/Face-One-Square-Foot-Skin/dp/1617759228], that I promise I will read one day 2)  Hooray for female sushi chefs in Tokyo  [https://www.ft.com/content/42026618-d2db-4680-8b9a-86ef16fd5a0e] 3) Try not to fall in love with Chris Pine on Dax Shepard [https://armchairexpertpod.com/pods/chris-pine] Britt's Three Things:  1) Daniel Radcliffe's delightful celebrity profile [https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/06/daniel-radcliffe-merrily-we-roll-along-jk-rowling/678219/]    Slightly embarrassed to admit how many times I have watched this. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAxsEWBz4t4]  2) The Case For Marrying an Older Man [https://www.thecut.com/article/age-gap-relationships-marriage-younger-women-older-man.html] 3) The Trad Wife Movement  [https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-trad-wife] From the Main Episode:  - Scott Galloway on Rich Roll  [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scott-galloway-on-healthy-masculinity-how-to-achieve/id582272991?i=1000652471164]

Traditional Chinese Medicine with Sandra Chiu

This week we spoke to the wonderful Sandra Chiu [https://lanshin.com/], a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the woman behind Lanshin [https://lanshin.com/]. You might have seen her on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/treatmentbylanshin/?hl=en] or Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@lanshinskin?lang=en] serving up some wonderful truths about Gua Sha, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Original Face. [https://www.tiktok.com/@lanshinskin/video/7284003919917960494?lang=en] While we spoke about all those things, we walked away with an even stronger belief that beauty is so much more than skin deep. Enjoy this conversation on how to find an interior and exterior sense of calm with Sandra!  Britt's One Thing:  Rick Rubin's Guide to Creativity [https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2024/03/rick-rubin-the-creative-act-book-review/677865/] Veronica's One Thing The Art of Craft: Papel Picado [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/arts/papel-picado-artist.html]

The Original Fashion Influencers

Yes, it's us, talking about fashion again. This week Britt tries to restrain herself from giving a full history of fashion, but dives into the world and influence of "Haute Couture". We continue our discussion of celebrities, and their relationships to fashion houses, going back to early film stars. We also ponder if these luxury houses are starting to lose their artistic and prestigious appeal when so much of what is now created is for mass consumption and appeal. Britt's Three Things  1) The French are trying to stop fast fashion. [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/16/fast-fashion-french-bringing-shein-and-temu-to-heel-can-britain-follow-suit?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other]  In The Guardian by Tiffanie Drake  2)  France banned the hijab 20 years ago, and The Conversation asks the question [https://theconversation.com/in-france-abortion-rights-and-hijab-bans-highlight-a-double-standard-on-womens-rights-225418], does “my body, my choice” apply to everyone? 3) Rishi Sunak in Sambas sneakers caused an internet meltdown. CNN here [https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/09/style/uk-prime-minister-rishi-sunak-sneakers/index.html] British GQ Here [https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/rishi-sunak-adidas-sambas-2024] NYT here [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/10/style/rishi-sunak-adidas-sambas.html] - to name a few that covered it. Veronica's Three Things.  1) Jack Latham's photographs of click farms here [https://www.jacklatham.com/beggars-honey] and here [https://www.instagram.com/p/C5WOjGCPxYv/?img_index=1]. 2) How To Discover Your Own Taste [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3JGETbaRnNqZe4gwj9QrwQ] 3) A few different Sex and the City reactions: Is Carrie Bradshaw Finally Being Redeemed? [https://www.vogue.com/article/is-carrie-bradshaw-due-a-reappraisal-sex-and-the-city-netflix]Gen-Z Thinks Carrie is a Bad Friend [https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-04-12/sex-and-the-city-carrie-bad-friend]Gen-Z are a Bunch of Charlottes [https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/apr/05/sex-and-the-city-netflix]Some Find the Cosmo Glass Half-Empty [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/13/arts/television/sex-and-the-city-netflix.html] Main Topic Notes: Drawing inspiration from historical fashion. Lauren Bacall [https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g45940981/lauren-bacall-style-evolution-photos/], Katherine Hepburn [https://www.thecut.com/2012/08/katharine-hepburn-look-book.html], Halston [https://www.marieclaire.com.au/latest-news/halston-iconic-fashion-moments/], Grace Kelly [https://www.elle.com/fashion/celebrity-style/g26575/grace-kelly-style-photos/], Elizabeth Taylor [https://www.thecut.com/2012/08/elizabeth-taylor-look-book.html], The New Look [https://www.vogue.com/article/everything-you-need-to-know-about-christian-diors-new-look-silhouette], John Singer Sargent and Fashion [https://www.mfa.org/exhibition/fashioned-by-sargent] Zendaya in Thom Browne [https://www.laineygossip.com/zendaya-custom-thom-browne-at-london-premiere-of-challengers-ace-of-all-aces/78011], and a lot of tennis inspired clothes.

Film Criticism with Lainey Gossip’s Sarah Marrs

This week we had the pleasure of speaking to Lainey Gossip’s Sarah Marrs [https://www.laineygossip.com/Movie-Reviews-and-Previews/Category/1115] about film criticism and Hollywood. We dive into what film criticism is, why it’s important and how it can be improved upon. It was both an enlightening and entertaining conversation and we’re so thankful we got to pick Sarah’s brilliant brain! Links:  1) The Mary Sue looks back on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind [https://www.themarysue.com/its-been-20-years-since-eternal-sunshine-turned-a-toxic-trope-on-itself/] 2) Karla Welch breaking down America Ferrera's Oscar look here [https://www.instagram.com/p/C4gh2CEvia9/?hl=en], here [https://www.instagram.com/p/C4g8Sdcvrpj/?hl=en], and here [https://www.instagram.com/p/C4g9U5RvD7N/?hl=en].  3) Julia Roberts' Life in Looks. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rwqD0VSWwM]

Good Grief

Like the title implies we are talking alllll about grief today. And particularly now necessary and good it is to properly grieve. Veronica feels right at home, Britt would rather grieve (and probably have this conversation) in private. We chat about how our society shuns grief and Veronica reflects on her own grief these last 18 months. Britt's Three Things:  1) Very happy Emma Thompson married a good one. Greg Wise on grief in The Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/24/actor-greg-wise-on-the-death-of-his-sister-and-how-grief-shapes-you-as-a-person]. 2) We discussed the latest developments with the Princess of Wales and this article [https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/kate-middleton-misogyny] encapsulates my feelings perfectly. And this [https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v35/n04/hilary-mantel/royal-bodies] is the Hillary Mantel essay that is mentioned. 3) Is this actually the end of TikTok? The Atlantic [https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2024/03/tiktok-bytedance-bill-national-security-risks/677860/] and the Financial Times [https://www.ft.com/content/3603b4d2-ce38-4d2c-a21b-baae6ea1921e] weigh in. Veronica's Three Things: 1) Esther Perel and Brené Brown on the New AI - Artificial Intimacy [https://brenebrown.com/podcast/new-ai-artificial-intimacy/]. 2) The most phenomenal obituary on Martin Greenfield. [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/20/fashion/martin-greenfield-dead.html]  3) New York's trash problem  [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/02/upshot/nyc-trash-rules.html]and what they're trying to do about it.