Long Live

I like talking about money. It might have to do with my dad, pictured below, who worked in finance, and started talking to us about money as kids. When he passed, I was barely a teenager with a couple hundred dollars in a checking account. These days, there are so many conversations about money I wish I could get his perspective on. So instead of staying in that sadness, I read books about money.

This letter is brought to you by Rothy’s. You know the outfits I’m talking about. Boring is too offensive an adjective. Utilitarian works just okay. Let’s land on “effortless” to describe them, in all their universal glory. These are the outfits you slip on when it’s comfort, not novelty, you’re trying to summon from your crowded closet. The film you watch on a sick day, the friend you call every week without realizing it.

Welcome back to Top 10-Ish. We’re on a bit of a roll over here, so this will be the last feature for a minute, but in true Long Live fashion, we’re going from Annie Meyer-Shyer to the one and only: Paige Desorbo. You might know her from her darling brand DAPHNE or perhaps from her run on Summer House. Or maybe you are an avid Giggly Squad listener like my cousin Ashley Veurink! Paige is the coolest. Let’s get into her picks. Literally any color of this blush is so gorgeous, I’m obsessed with them.

Part of this letter is brought to you by Sézane La la la la… Long Live is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You don’t have to choose a nontraditional parenting path in rural Connecticut to dress like it! Can’t you feel the crispness in the air? Let’s swing by Luke’s for a coffee after work. We can toss pop culture references back and forth in a conversational game of tennis while time passes at a blissful pace.

Welcome back to Top 10-Ish. I’m so delighted to share that today’s guest is none other than Annie Meyers-Shyer, author of the brand new book This Oak House. It’s safe to assume you’re all as obsessed with her content as I am. The book documents the years-long renovation and design process of her historic LA family home, plus a couple nods to her iconic mother, Nancy Meyers. Her picks are as wonderful as she is.

I’ll be honest. There are plenty of things that are better brand new: lingerie, ziploc bags (I have this thing against stasher bags), razors, kitchen sponges, towels—you get the picture. And then there’s an ongoing list of items that shine when shopped preloved. Consider this a jumping off point. I’ll be reading your additions in the comments.

Welcome back to Top 10-Ish. This week, we’re joined by Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering, and as of today, The Art of Fighting. She’s a facilitator, strategic advisor, author, and educator. Most relevantly, she taught me that every event needs a sharp “why.” $40. Stylish. Love the price and the look and my son keeps stealing them from me, which is how I know they’re a catch. I’ve been wearing this stick for twenty years. You can find it in every purse and bag I own.

Every week, when I pose an AMA to the class on Instagram, I inevitably get a question around work bags. One I like under $100? A rec to celebrate a big girl job? What I ACTUALLY use? I wrote about shoes that aren’t sandals or sneakers in this vein last summer, so I decided to revisit the format for some picks fit for any office: whether it’s a corner office or a corner at your university library.

It’s the first day of September. Let’s sharpen our proverbial pencils and lock in. As an on record Summer Hater, I’m buzzing with excitement over fall layers and cozy nights to come. Back to school is a state of MIND! For me, it manifests as a commitment to crafting a routine that works and also optimizing where I can. Oh, and ordering a pumpkin spice latte once before realizing I don’t really like it. Enjoy these recommendations that very loosely celebrate the start of my favorite season.

This letter is brought to you by Hinge. “It’s important to keep your expectations low.” That’s what I told myself in the quiet of May 2020, after I took another loop around Prospect Park and signed on to another video call happy hour. “This is simply a healthy distraction.” Lining up video dates—phone propped against the disintegrating exposed brick wall of my Park Slope studio apartment—punctuated the lonely lineup of weekday nights. Some were awkward. Others were comical.