3-29-2026 MY FAVES: women with balls and reality thoughts

 what i'm watching...

does it count that i passively watch sib and her hilarious snapchat commentary on gospodin savršeni? 

sib and i were not raised on trashy reality tv. we weren't allowed to watch big brother in the 2010s, never had cable to keep up with the kardashians, we only got a glimpse later on in high school when we had no internet curfew. but we remember it being scandalous and barely censored. the few reality shows (croatian farma - celebrities are stuck on a farm with no outside world connection) we watched - had sex scenes, uncensored cussing, and the night camera to even catch annoying snores and forbidden fondling. 

sib and i laughed during this week's episodes of gospodin savršeni, modesty culture ruined trashy reality tv too. could it be for the best? that a bachelor only kisses a girl 29 episodes in, is absolutely courteous, and here we are clutching our pearls at the other bachelor who keep insinuating he has a boner every episode. the cuss words in gospodin savršeni are always censored, sure the girls are catty and insufferable, but often reasonable too. the fights seem mild in comparison to what i thought reality tv is about. 

i don't know much (if anything) about reality tv. sib watches the secret lives of mormon wives, which to me should be a case study on mormonism, traditionalism, and the dangers of male manipulativeness. i watch jersey shore clips when it pops up on my social media. 

is reality too curated? these girls are not horny enough on gospodin savršeni, often sharing they're not ready for the 'first kiss'. fun fact: we've only had two girls kiss the bachelors all season long. seems boring, defeats the purpose. 

we do need to look at the positives this brings: less objectification of women, a reduced chance of women being villainized or clowned in the media. did the switch up happen during the #metoo movement? possibly. 

what i'm reading...

i completed when women ran fifth avenue. this was a really cool book diving into the history of major elite department stores, and the women who became major figures in the companies' success. can you guess who ends up being the villain of the story? a company that starts with w and ends with t, famous for their parking lots, and a certain felon still raping america. 

from the book, a description of the bendel girl:

our customer is big-city aware, contemporary, anywhere from about 18 to 60 - and has a terrific, small figure. she wants individual clothes that are totally today but not gaggy, avant-garde but not kooky.

new york magazine's 1973 description of the bendel girl:

unlike the bergdorf, the bendel is not born, but made. covered in stephen burrows inside-out chicness or resplendent in chloé blouses tucked into skinny jeans tucked into $400 boots, she has never underestimated the power of a beautiful thing. she knows, without her yoga instructor's telling her, that size 4 is the size that's right for her. the bendel is subtle and a little shy - she hides her penelope tree eyebrows under oversized sunglasses; her swinging, straight hair under turbans and berets, her freshly manicured toenails beneath oversized clogs as she looks for the simple throw on at $275. the bendel does not eat during the day, except for an occasional asparagus. she prefers her store's boutiques with their maximum of chic and minimum of stock. the bendel woman i methodical and thinks ahead, and if she has stayed past the sensible 3:30, thank god for buster, who will get her a taxi.

sticking with the theme of female entrepreneurs in the fashion industry, i am reading almost reckless - a book by amy smilovic, founder of fashion brand tibi. the book describes how success = listening to your gut, and it's not about finance bros and their theories.

i dug out a harper's bazaar from september 2020. what a time - the country was still freshly healing from the initial covid shutdown and the tragedy of george floyd's murder. i think these events switched up journalism, no matter how trivial they may be. fashion has always been political, and while in the past, it seemed subtler, now journalists are doing their part in activism, through spotlighting small black businesses, trans models of color, and everyday stories that are a wakeup call next to a chanel ad.

beside these inspiring stories, i did get inspired with some fashion must-haves:

what to buy:

mod

1. chain necklace

2. sculptural earrings

3. oval sunglasses

4. half-moon clutch

5. satin satchel

6. white booties

missing from my closet:

1. perforated mary janes

2. silver eyeliner

harper's bazaar also recommends:

keep:

- mock-neck tops

- miniskirts

- opaque tights

recycle:

- pvc bags

- logo tees

- bermuda shorts

the following trends were documented in the must-haves, titled the grand bazaar, of course interpreted through my closet:

dream weaver
free your spirit in tapestry fabrics and crafty jewelry

touch of gray
get down to business in tailored workwear and chic extras

bohemian rhapsody
channel the '70s in paisley prints and glints of gold

according to harper's bazaar's #thelist, a look from monse fall/winter 2020 runway show was inspiration for their modern rebel.

"a little punk, a little grunge, and a whole lot of chic. this fall, embrace your inner rebel with bold pieces that are as versatile as they are timeless."

what i'm listening to...

here's this week's top 5 songs i saved:

da mogu - emina jahovic

really real - robyn 

 highly recommending this new album.

rocketeer - far east movement, ryan tedder

sideways - zayn

on the lookout for this album too

blaze away - morcheeba

not enough zen-x in my life...