There is something eerily soothing about listening to
Tim Gunn talk about the future of fashion with Terry Gross
while cleaning out your closet. The Project Runway judge admits that comfortable clothing used to warrant a reprimand with an eye roll, but now donning a jacket and tie for a Zoom call feels like putting on a wetsuit. Agreed. As I rifled through years of designer memories — like that coveted pair of Guccis I bought with my first magazine paycheck in the '90s — I searched for the pieces that would work for right now. Nautical striped shirt and J. Crew linen drawstring pants? Check.
Ann Mashburn navy
tunic that I can throw on over a pair of white jeans for a FaceTime interview? Score. The uniform might be changing a bit, but anyone can pivot to fit whatever is appropriate for
you
at this very moment.
But I do have to admit to cringing when I hear pundits pontificate about the “new normal”. Sorry but there is nothing “normal” about this. The always humorous Jennifer Weiner wrote about her
impending fear of the quarantine bubbles which could add another level to the FOMO among us. Will it be the high school lunchroom all over again, but now with coordinating face masks — on Wednesdays we wear pink — and social distancing parties on social media without you? Or will it give you an excuse to let those toxic relationships go. I don’t have the answer, but in the meantime, I hope a few of these suggestions below might just perk up whatever phase you are in.
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Whenever I think of summer, I envision a
Slim Aarons-esque
lounge by the pool party complete with caftans and cocktails galore. So I was positively giddy to encounter
Hester Bly,
a brilliant line whose name is a fitting homage to two badass heroines of the past, Nellie Bly and Lady Hester Stanhope. Inspired by the modernist glamour of Palm Springs, the latest collection conjures up a wistful romp through the iconic designs we recognize like Donald Wexler’s Butterly Roof and the aforementioned poolside photo of the Kauffman House. Although I might not grab a flight west this summer, I would love to host a few of my friends in their caftans, and in true quarantine fashion, indulge in a BYO casserole request just for fun.
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I have been a fan of Morphmom since I was introduced to its founder Kathleen Butler Smith years ago. Back then she envisioned a community of women to help each other transition through whatever life threw out at them, such as moving from mom to business owner, and boy has she succeeded. She now hosts conferences, a radio show and just launched a Virtual “How To” Happy Hour on Thursdays at 5pm. I was honored to be a
guest last week
and look forward to joining
Meaghan Murphy from Woman’s Day
to hear about getting back the YAY in our lives.
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In the noble search for appropriate cocktail recipes, I asked one of my favorite designers for one. Lela Rose is known for her exquisite designs and her entertainment skills, which were on full display at a recent a virtual party to celebrate her
Pearl
line. Her Lemon Lady calls for 1.5 oz Casa Dragones Blanco Tequila, 1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice, 1 oz. Cointreu, 1/2 oz agave nectar and 2 dash of Habanero Dust combined in a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake it up, pour over crushed ice and garnish with a lemon wheel. Spicy girls indeed!
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If
Ann Patchett
suggests a book, it usually takes about five minutes before I procure it. So when she referred to
All Adults Here
as the escape we need right now, I called my local bookstore Malaprop’s who delivered it that day. Author Emma Straub (The Vacationers) weaves a beautiful story to hit every button of familial conflict and intrigue that perfectly distracted me for a few blissful hours of “me” time.
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Say what you will about Tik Tok, but when your quarantween gushes about a new book she discovered because of the social media sensation, it’s a win. She dumped the screen and ripped through
Dante and Aristotle Discover the Secrets of the Universe
, an award-winning book about an unlikely pair of teen boys (usually
ewwww
) whose friendship blossoms through two summers. She says the writing is so good that she wanted to share with her friends, one of whom rode her bike over just now to borrow it for the weekend.
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Speaking of things she loves,
Home Before Dark
instantly became a family binge this month. Based on the true story of a 9 year-old journalist who solves a murder mystery in her father’s hometown, it’s an exhilarating performance by Brooklynn Prince (
The Florida Project
) and her merry band of elementary school sleuths.
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Many years after our music editor Isoul Harris introduced me to Janelle Monáe and we were among the first to feature her in a magazine at
Atlanta Peach, I still get a bit wistful listening to her on
Fresh Air. So you can imagine my glee upon
seeing her on the cover of
Vanity Fair,
which inspired me to blast a
few of her greatest hits
to better my mood along with
Volume 5
of DJ Jazzy Jess’s Lively Up Your Lockdown.
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Jake Gyllenhaal
singing about a quarantine love and
Richard Kind
asking Hollywood to let him play a gentile are among the many genius moments behind the
24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues
. The idea behind the original concept is the pairing of actors and writers to create a play in 24 hours to be performed on stage, so now they are pivoting to IGTV for an online experience like no other. At the very least, anything with
Rachel Dratch and David Lindsey-Abaire
is a must-do on my list.
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THE GOOD FIGHT WINS
We were so very lucky that our living room refresh from
Verde Home
arrived just in time to catch up with
The Good Fight
. Now we have plenty of lounging room (and my husband has THE best chair) to engage in one of the smartest series on television. Christine Baranski, Audra McDonald and Delroy Lindo on one screen? Fashion and acting perfection for everyone to enjoy.
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My friend Heather has been cooking so much that I'm waiting to receive her quarantine cookbook. In the meantime, she recommended this
teriyaki salmon recipe from Ina Garten that not only scored with the picky eaters but earned this chef five stars a few times this month.
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