hate spending, hate watching, and me just being a hater
i'll admit this newsletter is bad vibes
Vivienne Westwood’s personal wardrobe to go under auction at Christie’s
Essence’s parent company confirmed to buy Refinery29 from Vice Media
David Beckham is suing Mark Wahlberg for $10 million over F45 Training deal
Horse girl perfumes are taking over the fragrance world. People, welcome to the long tail of the horse girl trend. In the world we live in, one has to have a healthy appreciation for the way commerce will seize a trend and DEVOUR IT WHOLE! Horse girl fashion, horse girl music, horse girl boyfriends, and now horse girl perfume. According to perfume critic Persolaise, “horses are seen as encompassing ideas of romance, speed, power, beauty, nobility, authority, untamed nature, and humanity in harmony with nature... all concepts beloved by marketing departments.” LOL okay. To quote Style Analytics, “It’s not about being a horse girl; it’s about being a horse.”
A comprehensive guide to the ‘Girl Internet’. If you’re not already sick of this stuff, you’re welcome.
Wake up, people! We’ve entered the 'hate spending' era. Do you ever wonder what they’re teaching kids about price elasticity these days? I do. How does one explain to a fourteen-year-old that yes, this product might be technically non-essential and can be easily substituted, but even if the price climbs and climbs, people will still buy it because they “need it for their sanity… it’s just so cute” or my personal favorite ”f*ck it, whatever.” America is a country of people who are angry at corporations but keep buying stuff anyway. I think it’s sad how we’re increasingly leaning on STUFF to create identity for ourselves.
Tesla cuts prices in China, Germany, and major markets following cuts in the U.S. Let’s do a hate recap of Tesla’s very horrible, no good week that was:
Tesla cuts its workforce by 10%
Tesla tries to restore Elon Musk’s insane pay package
Tesla recalls nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks
If you want to hate spend, now’s the time.
When I watched the trailer for Nicola Peltz Beckham’s movie, 'Lola,' I just knew the day would come when I’d be writing about it here. I guess we all had the same thought on this one: okay, heiress. Three’s a trend, so I gotta ask: Is 2024 the year rich women pour their money into truly questionable “identity” projects? See JLo, Jojo Siwa. You guys know I’m here for the occasional bad art as fuel for cultural discourse, but are the girlies getting a little bit too delulu?
Paste Magazine left the byline off a review panning Taylor Swift’s TTPD album after a previous critic received death threats. I keep saying it, Taylor needs to curb her children. Even she thinks so. But because I trust you guys’ sanity, I don’t mind sharing that I found TTPD too long, very repetitive, and just not that interesting. I’ve already fought this battle in several group chats over the weekend so I will not be doing it here.
The devil works hard, but Tree Paine works harder. “At almost every turn, Paine presents Swift—arguably the most famous woman on the planet, a billionaire with a private jet—as a relatable underdog fighting for her voice to be heard.” Oh, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve had to remind my Swiftie friends of this. Twenty bucks at least. The Wall Street Journal’s profile on Tree Paine, the one and only publicist extraordinaire of Taylor Swift, is the most interesting Taylor content I’ve seen all week. As a recovering Swiftie, I’ve come to realize that perhaps the most masterful thing about Taylor is the way she’s been able to create such detailed lore about herself through every action—yes, even down to those uggo outfits. This is not to say she’s not a talented artist, but I’ll always argue that her (or Tree’s) true genius lies in her brand positioning. Take her latest album, for example—I a quick TikTok scroll will show that more people are interested in decoding the song lyrics than asking is this even good ? This is neither here nor there, but can we all finally agree that Taylor isn't some achingly authentic nineteen-year-old rending her heart for the world to see; but a highly intelligent billionaire in her mid-thirties with a badass publicist to boot. When I acknowledge her greatness from this angle, I think I love her more.
I told you guys Lauren Sanchez would come out on top. This is all very Kim, Kanye and Anna circa 2013, 2014
What is the concept for Khy? The latest drop—three 'perfect denim' jeans (and maybe white t-shirts?) made in collaboration with London-based designer Natasha Zinko—makes me think capsule wardrobe. Is that the play here? Affordable luxury capsule pieces? Someone please explain this to me, I feel a bit foolish.
One of my favorite digital publications and frequent as seen on source, Air Mail, just opened a retail store in NYC. It’s called Air Mail Newsstand (love) and they sell CBD-infused elixirs, branded lapel pins, and statusy books (y’all know this is a thing). No required reading today, but would love some store recon. Someone check out that store and tell me what I’m missing.
Bread Beauty Supply had a Gel Swap in NYC yesterday that got me thinking. FIRSTLY, their branding and packaging is HOT! I gave one of their sets to my best friend (hi Maddi!) for her birthday a few years ago solely based on aesthetics (she likes cute things), and she told me the products worked well for her.
SECONDLY, are product swaps the new acquisition marketing play? I think Lululemon might have started them with their leggings swap last year and I know Athleta and Glossier have done swaps too. I have a few questions about efficacy here- but top of my list always is, what do they do with all those swapped out products ?!
THIRDLY, who exactly BREAD BEAUTY’S products are for has always been unclear to me. BREAD positions itself as everyday basics for ‘all hair types’, but as a black woman with 4C hair, I don’t believe any product for ‘all hair types’ could ever do much for me. I think most women with super kinky hair feel this way. It’s the same issue I have with Beyoncé’s CéCred line. Who exactly is it for?
When a black founder releases a hair care line, we assume it’s for black or textured hair even if they don’t say this themselves. This is a problem because then white consumers think, 'Oh, this isn’t for me, love the representation though.' and black (non-biracial) consumers think, 'Oh, this can't be for me, these hair textures are nothing like mine.' So, the people who feel most comfortable trying out the products are people who look like the founders themselves—biracial or racially ambiguous, with curly (not kinky) hair. Hair care products are utility products at the end of the day. Branding aside, people need to believe they work. This is more so for black consumers—maybe even more so the tighter the curls. And I know every black woman knows this, which is why I stay confused.
Buying up sports teams is the new status symbol for billionaires, but it isn’t all vanity there. Turns out the economics of sports franchise ownership are extremely good—whether the teams win or lose. 'Soaring team values, investment security, and extreme scarcity make franchise ownership a magnet for magnates, the rare investment capable of making even dumb money look smart.’
Not Rihanna trying to tease a new foundation and the entire comment section threatening to boycott FENTY if she doesn't launch an album. I urge you all to care less. Hope breeds eternal misery.
Netflix wins bidding war for ‘Calabasas’, a new TV series to be produced by Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts, and Pretty Little Liars creator Marlene King. Guys, I’m excited for this one. Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now and is about 'a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High.' I’m hoping this is more OC and Gossip Girl and less The Sex Lives Of College Girls and Gossip Girl the Reboot. I trust the people in charge though. For this, I’ll hold out hope.
If you’ve ever theorized that the ultra-wealthy attend secret corporate events the likes of which you and I know nothing about, you’d be right. Billionaire summer camps on secluded islands, wellness sessions with professional athletes, afterparties with A-List celebrities. 'This is where the ideas for business can be developed.' Read it and weep.
Destination Dupes are the latest travel TikTok trend and y’all need to listen up: pay less, learn more, and maybe stop mucking up people’s homes by going to just as great, but less touristy spots this summer.
Fellow Zoomers, did you actually cause a worldwide shortage of these $10 baby figurines? 'Gen Zers are convening at parks and cafés, speaking in coded acronyms, and negotiating in secret group chats—all in the pursuit of a three-inch-tall baby.' I don’t want to believe everything they say about us, but times like these, I do worry…
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