It is so unsettling to feel so cold in August. They should shoot something into the ozone layer that makes it impossible to get sick in the summer, the way you can spray a backyard for ticks and mosquitos. The air in New York is already poison, anyway, and it surely was in Chicago where I picked up whatever bug I have right now last week. I liked Chicago — the city was much more vast than I realized, and The Bean was so much smaller than I realized?? I think the city needs a PR revamp, especially now that The Bear is in its flop era. Anyway, take this as your reminder to brace yourself for the tail end of whatever Brat summer has in store (on my side of things, I’ve definitely seen some lime green in my sink that would make the Hawk Tuah girl proud) and take care of yourself. Lilly and I are headed to Newport in a few weeks, and I need to be ready to give the fans what they want. Not trying to let this ruin the tour. — MF
Will me and Melinda ever be winning at the same time again? (Please say yes… or even better, make this a reality by sending this newsletter to your friends…) I am finally back on my feet after breaking my foot in June, so things are looking up for me. Sure, I can’t wear anything besides Hokas, but it’s a start! As one of my friends said last weekend, “lots of people are having a tennis shoe moment.” In August, I’m having them exclusively. Here’s hoping I can have a something-else moment in Newport and that Melinda gets better soon so that we can finally be back on top. — LM
Hunter-gatherer corner
What we’ve read and DMed each other about lately — our internet bounty is below!
“Why You Should Eat White Rice Over Brown Rice” by
- — Finally, I feel vindicated in my lifelong refusal to submit to the demonization of white rice, which I always felt was baseless but was also too lazy to Google. — MF“Making Memes for the Global “Oat Milk Élite” by Kyle Chayka - The New Yorker — Like everyone else, I’m addicted to these hyperlocal meme pages, and the work Alex Hartman is doing at
on Instagram and on Substack. — MF- - — You’ve all been getting slammed with Ozempic ads, too, right? I’ve been suffering through them in silence, and in this piece, Reese admitted to the complicated feelings I’m sure many of us have around them. — LM
“How ‘Industry’ Made Prestige TV For The TikTok Era” by Kyle Chayka - The New Yorker — Another Kyle Chayka piece! Really excited for season 3 this weekend. While the show has its flaws, I find it to be so fun to watch, and I never considered how its fast-pacedness plays into our now base viewing impulses, for better or for worse. — MF
Why Not?
Why Not? is our biweekly list of recommendations. Think recipes, gift guides, podcasts, clothes, and anything we consider to be generally chic. Have a suggestion? Let us know!
Hume Supernatural deodorant — I want to preface this by saying I am not a particularly sweaty or smelly person. If that sounds like you, everything I know says you should stick with aluminum or instead consult Kourtney Kardashian Barker. If you're looking for a nicely scented natural deodorant that doesn’t congeal or stain or leave you damp and gross, I highly recommend this brand. My favorite is their Out West scent, which is slightly more masculine than I prefer my fragrances with notes of tobacco and leather, but the cedarwood really balances it out and works with my body chemistry. — MF
Watching Lost — Okay, I was skeptical about this one, and this was probably the worst thing to dig into before a flight, but I am hooked on Lost despite the fact it really freaks me out for some reason — too much suspense! — and I have to mentally prepare myself for every episode and make sure that I am in the “right headspace” to watch. What’s the right headspace? I never know, but Paul wanted to watch and sometimes we do things that scare us for the people we love! Plus, Lilly told me she was starting soon. (People keep promising me it’s not that scary !! At least I know Melinda would never lie to me. — LM) —MF
Raye Mid Rise Relaxed Jean Shorts - Reformation — Just picked these up because I needed shorts that were slightly shorter than my Abercrombie Dad Shorts and slightly longer than my Levi’s. Okay, maybe need is an overstatement, but I wanted something that felt equally appropriate for a family gathering and hanging with friends. — LM
Even Balance Toner - Epi.Logic — My amazing esthetician Samantha Mims gifted this to me, but I will be repurchasing as soon as I even seem close to running out (but a little goes a long way.) This is magic in a bottle. This toner makes my skin glow, hydrates it, and has noticeably evened out my complexion after 2 uses. I don’t understand how, but I could scream about this from the rooftops. It’s pretty much all I’m using these days. — MF
Buying flowers from the grocery store — Melinda and Paul very sweetly sent us flowers when we moved into our new place, then they sent them again when it was Mike’s birthday a week later… and then again just for fun. Now, I’m hooked on having flowers at home and, though the grocery store variety isn’t quite as nice as the gorgeous Olympia Flower Store bouquets they sent, they have been a very fun more budget-friendly option to introduce into our home. — LM
If you liked this issue, give the fans what they want! Tell us your thoughts in the comments or on Instagram (@lilly_milman | @melindafakuade), and share it with the person you’d like to be winning with.