no one asked: new summer pieces, social media blacklists and seen library in toronto
20: what i'm re-wearing, working on and sharing on tiktok...
Re-wearing…
These two pieces by Paloma Wool. I’ve never purchased anything from their brand before but when I got wind of their pop up in LA (which didn’t have the best reviews I later learned on TikTok), I decided to check them out.
There, I tried on these Side Tie Trousers which fit me so well I had to get them. I will say, they aren’t the best quality — they’re pretty thin and don’t feel luxe, but I do like how lightweight they are and how casual they are compared to my other trousers. Most of my other pants have belt loops on them, which make them feel more tailored and serious, whereas these hang a bit lower and have a side tie and concealed zip that feels more effortless. I’ve been wearing them a ton since I got them — with shrunken baby tees and brown tanks — along with this Dragon Diffusion leather tote that’s also been heavily in rotation. I bought the bag directly from their website, which took 10 weeks as it’s made-to-order, but you can get it pretty immediately from Net-a-Porter.
I got a lot of questions about this sheer dark brown mini dress, also from Paloma Wool. My birthday party was coming up and while I don’t normally shop for event specific pieces, as I try to wear what I already have, I did some browsing to see if I could find anything that I can also wear on my upcoming vacation. I was skeptical because it was so see through in the photos online, but once I tried it on after receiving it in the mail, I thought it was appropriate for my summer soiree. Under it, I wore the Gatherall Sticky Bra, which I wear almost every time I need to wear a bra, and seamless black underwear. Because I’m so petite, the ruching at the sides bunched up more than it did on the model and made a lot less sheer. It’s chic, easy to throw on and I’ve worn it twice since getting it — at my birthday and again a few days later at a brand dinner. I’m contemplating wearing it to another dinner this week and will be packing it with me for my summer travels.
More summer dressing and what I’m wearing here.
Eating…
Sampa in the Arts District in Los Angeles. I actually tried their food for the first time at a dinner for Bahay Kubo and coincidentally, a few days prior I had made a reservation for brunch this past Sunday to have a joint birthday and early Father’s Day meal with my family. It’s Filipino cuisine reimagined and it’s very delicious. If you go, you have to order the Calamansi-Glazed Chicken Wings, Kare Kare Tamales, Lechon Fried Rice, Halo Halo Tres Leches and Ube Cheesecake. I personally think the Biscuits and Longanisa Gravy is a skip (there’s just not enough meat!). It is a bit pricey and the environment isn’t very casual, so if you’re looking for something more chill, I’d suggest Lasita or LA Rose Cafe.
Working on…
Seen Library in Toronto :) I’m taking a little break from events while I travel, but I’m so excited to do more when I get back. More details to follow! As always, make sure to follow SL on Instagram or subscribe here to be notified first.
Connecting to…
My 80-year-old neighbor, who I now go on weekly walks with around our neighborhood. We have a set time each week and meet each other outside our homes to do a little walk and talk for 45 minutes. We catch up and always have cat treats handy to feed all the stray cats along our route.
I’ve loved our budding friendship and it’s been so cute to see how we went from meeting one another to leaving treats (dessert, lemons, etc.) for each other on our porches to having tea in each others’ homes to now going on evening walks. It’s truly been a highlight of my year and not to be corny, it’s reminded me of the good in people and how often we overlook them and their stories when they can be found all around us.
Restacking…
why everyone wants to be the internet's librarian by
Most celebrity book clubs today are entirely virtual — really just Instagram pages that recommend books. Sure, throw in an author interview here or a giveaway there, but there’s still very little “club” about them…
Dear readers, let me remind you all that people DO NOT READ. A survey of 1,500 American adults last year showed that 46% finished zero books and 5% read just one. If you read more than 2 books last year, you’re in the top half of U.S. adults…
It’s funny, society is perpetually anxious about the example female celebrities are setting for girls and young women. Maybe “reading is hot, reading is cool” isn’t such a bad thing — some might even say it’s a win.
We Don't Need 'Self-Help,' We Need Support by
…it's time that we come to terms with the fact that most of the problems from which Americans seek relief can’t be solved at the individual level. You can't have more meaningful friendships if you and your friends don't have free time… You can't join a book club, volunteer, or take up a hobby if, when the workday ends, you are so depleted that all you have energy for is to lay under a weighted blanket and binge Netflix…
The fact is, happy and healthy people don't just happen. They are created by the culture in which they reside.
Why not draw inspiration from women who might look more like me or even embody the behavior and feelings I aspire to? Does a “cool girl” seem like an overall lovely person? Does she embody the type of person I’d like to be? I find that my new idea of a “cool girl” doesn’t exude that icy, unattainable coolness anymore, but rather an accessible warmth.
Watching…
This TikTok by @simplysimone about Ashlee Margolis, founder of The A-List, an agency that works with influencers, brands and celebrities, who told staffers to not work with anyone “posting against Israel.”
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It basically summed up what many of us in the social media industry (and many other industries) knew all along: that by speaking out against the atrocities committed in Palestine by the Israeli government, we weren’t just risking friendships or social circles, but also our livelihoods and opportunities. This is just one of the many examples of how so many people at the top seek to silence those who have the courage to speak out on something that should be universal: that indiscriminate killing is wrong.
I’ve seen many brand managers — those at big brands who have the power to dictate which creators and influencers get work — unapologetically post to their Instagram stories their support and justification for what Israel is doing. And as a result, have seen creators who have spoken out on every other injustice stay quiet about this one and with that, the benefits that come by staying quiet.
I myself received an angry message from a former boss who took issue with a book I shared on my Instagram stories and in the same DM, recounted how “dramatic” my stance was during the BLM movement. I often think about what would have happened had I still been working for her at this moment — would I have been fired? Would I not have spoken up, terrified to lose my main source of income?
That’s why I find it so ridiculous when I hear people claim that speaking about Palestine is “trendy” when people face serious backlash for doing so. While those who post in opposition of war and death and destruction are threatened with blacklisting and unemployment, those who condone it don’t face any backlash and instead, are sometimes even honored and celebrated. I find it so concerning how we can (and should) criticize the US government with little repercussions (as far as I know, anyway) but face serious consequences when speaking out about a government of a country we don’t even live in.
Listening to…
Israel Hostage Rescue Mission Kills Scores of Palestinians by What A Day and World Reacts to Trump’s Guilty Verdict by Pod Save the World, which discusses the current happenings in Israel and Palestine.
count me in for Seen Library in Toronto 🤍 this news makes me so happy!