A thought-provoking read & female finds

Sunday musings

First and foremost, wishing a very Happy Father’s Day to all of the extraordinary dads out there.

A Thought-Provoking Read:

Two months ago, as I was walking home from the gym scrolling through podcasts in a non-committal manner - akin to scrolling through the latest shows on Netflix - I stumbled upon an episode of The Ezra Klein Show called, This Conversation Made Me a Sharper Editor. I was immediately intrigued by the title, so pressed play and quickly learned that the focus of the show was an interview between Klein and Adam Moss, an esteemed editor best known for his role as Editor in Chief at New York magazine for 15 years. During his tenure, the publication broke award-winning records. After he left the magazine, he started focusing his time on painting and creating art and quickly realized that he was deeply curious about how an artist creates something from nothing.

Back in April, he published a book on the topic called, The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing. Within the pages, he interviews 43 creatives - from designers to directors to sculptors and beyond to dive into their processes. Think Sofia Coppola, Marc Jacobs, Stephen Sondheim, and more.

It’s essentially filled with 43 short stories that not only provide insightful text, but include countless pages of sketches, photographs, and copies of private notes that visually showcase one’s process on a specific output. I personally have found it quite fascinating, even in the cases where I’m less familiar with the particular individual featured.

As I’ve read the interviews, my biggest takeaway is that more often than not, there is utter chaos and even confusion throughout the creative process. The journey is far from linear, even for those who are at the top of their fields. This has given me a sense of relief as I thought about navigating my own creative path.

Yes, this takeaway may seem obvious to many, but as someone who has spent so much of my professional life operating in environments with clearly defined, linear growth paths, and also so many rules related to output creation with the specific goal of mitigating chaos at every turn, the insight felt quite liberating to me. There are plenty of other much appreciated learnings throughout the pages, but I certainly don’t want to give away any spoilers.

My Latest & Greatest Female Finds:

I finally had a chance to try the ROZ MILK Hair Serum over the past few weeks (after it finally hit the shelves at Credo) and have been loving the results. Bonus points for the intoxicating smell.

The Jenni Kayne Rio and Riviera Slip Dresses are perfect for summer and easy for packing, offering nice versatility for day to night looks while keeping you cool in the heat. I was honestly tempted to buy them in multiples.

Reformation’s Olina Linen Pants, which come in multiple colors and patterns, are a nice choice for errands, beach and pool days, and brunch with the girls. Thank goodness Ref offers complimentary hemming.

I received the Goop Colorblur Glow Balm as a gift with purchase a few months ago and have been using it as my go-to cheek color on days I want a “glow” but don’t want to wear as much makeup. I’m really loving the color and application.

I’ve been on the search for an everyday mug when drinking tea at home, but have been like Goldilocks when it comes to pulling the trigger. Most often, I find the mugs I discover are too small or the opening is too wide, allowing heat to escape faster than desired. I want a classic mug shape and size with an easy-to-hold handle for practical purposes, but a more creative twist in the execution. After finding these mugs by Kati Von Lehman at General Store and seeing them in person, I think I’m ready to pull the trigger. They’re super cute. Should I do it?

Here’s to a sunny Sunday.

x

jz

Images | 1 - 3 | @b.g.mckay

This post contains some affiliate links. Please note that all recommendations and opinions are my own.

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