Ya Lookin'? 👀 (Issue #15)

This week’s theme is all about looking – a deep dive on aesthetics, iconic imagery, and personal expression.

Hi friends!

A few weeks ago, Andrew + I (along with many other folks around the world) headed to our local theater to watch the new Barbie movie. Unless you’re totally unplugged, I’m sure you’ve witnessed the barrage of discourse about this movie.

I definitely had my opinion (which I shared on my Instagram story - pictured above), but today I’m far less interested in further discussing the narrative content of the film. Instead, I want to embrace today’s theme by focusing on what the Barbie movie looked like. Before the trailer even dropped, fans were jumping at the chance to get a sneak peek. Going as far back as the cast announcement of Margot Robbie + Ryan Gosling as Barbie + Ken, Barbie fans shared their strong opinions about whether the movie adaptation of their favorite childhood doll would look right. Leaked photos and videos of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling rollerblading around Venice Beach went viral. Rumors of the set causing a pink paint shortage were investigated by major publications. And the release of the Barbie trailer spurred a wave of fan theories about the plot of the highly anticipated film. Barbie aesthetics have had a grip on culture for decades, so it only makes sense the big-budget movie adaptation would be held to very high visual standards.

With the powerful backing of Mattel, Barbie boasted a $145 million budget with a $150 million marketing budget, used to both create stunning visuals and to ensure everyone sees them. Margot Robbie’s Architectural Digest tour of the Barbie Dreamhouse is nothing short of perfect, and the larger-than-life sets throughout the movie really helped bring Barbieland from a world of dolls to something that felt truly immersive.

My friend Olivia described Gerwig’s approach to this movie as “a love letter to classic filmmaking and soundstage musicals,” and you can really feel Gerwig’s love for these old films throughout. Gerwig’s interview with Letterboxd further confirms this, as she lists the movies that inspired Barbie, including the specific images and sequences she borrowed for her recreation. One of the clearest examples of this is the opening sequence, which is a shot by shot parody of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Gerwig also used practical effects throughout the film, which is most noticeable during the transportation sequences for which Gerwig borrowed silent movie film techniques in lieu of modern special effects.

And no matter your take on the movie’s narrative, there’s no denying that Barbie is just sooooo much fun to look at! Film is necessarily a visual storytelling medium, and Barbie’s director Greta Gerwig really capitalized on this. And at the risk of sounding like AMC Nicole Kidman, being transported into a new world through stunning visual immersion is why movies are just so fun to watch in the first place. 

Which brings me to today’s newsletter, a deep dive through all things visual. Enjoy <3

A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend

• The New Yorker: How High Can High-Waisted Pants Go? by Rachel Syme

  • Syme takes a fascinating deep dive through the history of high waisted pants. Which had me reflecting on my own experiences growing up in the early aughts, when high waisted pants were treated like a punchline. Syme explores this closet staple through the perspective of design, and tells the true story of the designers who brought the pants back into high demand.

• YouTube: Sideserf Cake Studio

  • Natalie Sideserf is a cake making MAGICIAN. Like many folks with social media, a friend of mine has fallen down many hyper-realistic cake rabbit holes and is addicted to Sideserf’s channel. I’ve truly never seen cakes this good, and her “real or cake” challenge videos are actually pretty difficult!

• TikTok: @artlust

  • My friend recommended @artlust, where Seema Rao uses her experience working in museums to create accessible and compelling videos about art history and culture. She has a whole series called “one minute art history” which is a great way to start, but I also loved her videos on time and couples portraits. Seema also co-hosts the Artlust Podcast, which I haven’t listened to but looks worth checking out!

• National Geographic: The ancient history of tattoos - revealed by inked-up mummies by Erin Blakemore

  • This article travels through history to examine tattoos all over the world. A lot of what we know about tattoo history comes from what scientists can gathered from mummies. I loved this historical investigation, and highly recommend you check it out!

Featuring someone I’m obsessed with (talking about what they’re obsessed with).

Note: Links preceded by an asterisk (*) are affiliate links that allow me to collect a small commission when you purchase something I’ve recommended. That said, I can promise that I’ll only ever share items I truly love. Buying through these links is one way to support me and my small biz. ❤️

Lissa is a longtime friend of mine, and I’m obsessed with her book recommendations! Her bookstagram is the best and I’m always lurking through her account to the next book I need to start. Since books are a highly visual medium, I asked Lissa to share some of her top recs! Check them out below, and make sure to see more suggestions from Lissa on her Instagram @lissalearns or on Goodreads.

And now for Lissa’s recommendations in 3…2…1…

*Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova - I discovered this book like I discover many of my reads, through the book community on Instagram. This is a tender story of love and grief and the powers they both hold. It doesn’t hide any of what it really is from the reader, a queer fever dream. It’s horrific and magical and it won’t leave my mind! 

*Pageboy by Elliot Page - I first heard Elliot was making a memoir when he posted his book cover last December. This book is making my obsessions because no author owes us any explanation as to who they are and the trauma they’ve experienced. That being said, I am so happy Elliot is at a place in his life where he can use his platform to help young queer and trans folks. Trans kids and queer kids deserve to be seen, heard and allowed access to affirming care that could save their lives. 

*Chlorine by Jade Song - This is an another book I saw floating around bookstagram that I knew I had to get my hands on. It’s a horrific sapphic coming of age story fueled by body horror and a fixation on mermaids. It hits a lot of heavy topics in such a beautifully written way. A good way to read this book? Your local library, which is how I read it. (The library is one of my forever obsessions) 

The Record by boygenius on Vinyl - When reading I like to set up a little nest in front of my record player sitting in the sunlight so I can get maximum serotonin and I am almost always spinning the record by boygenius. I can’t remember how I discovered them, but this record has been the soundtrack to my summer. 

Things to try + share in the group chat.

• I bought my mom this charm bracelet as a parent gift at my wedding. It’s a beautiful, high-quality, upgraded version of the charm bracelets I remember obsessing over in my childhood. You can customize the bracelet in either silver or gold, choosing from one of three chain styles and adding on up to six charms from an option list of over 100! It’s a really cool investment piece to buy yourself, or a really nice personal gift for a loved one.

• I recently discovered I am “short waisted” and it has completely changed how I approach my personal style. The idea is to style yourself based on your body’s proportions, and your vertical body type is a huge part of this. To assess your own torso, put one hand directly under your breast area, and the other hand directly under the first (check out this TikTok for a step-by-step tutorial). If the second hand lands above the belly button you’re long waisted, and if the hand lands past the belly button you’re short waisted. I also really enjoyed this YouTube video for more tips and tricks on how to dress for my body shape. Just like anything in fashion there are no hard + fast rules, but it can be a helpful guide when looking for tips on how to find and style clothes for your body. 

• Collecting beautiful ceramics has been a hobby of mine ever since my trip to Denmark last summer. Everywhere we went had such beautiful dishware, and it lit a fire within me to up my dishware game. I bought a strawberry mug from Love Co Ceramics on Etsy and it is the most adorable hand painted piece. The shop doesn’t have my exact mug anymore as they rotate their offerings over time, but this heart mug is also adorable! While I used Etsy to purchase my mug, Love Co Ceramics also has an Instagram where they showcase more ceramics options and host story sales periodically. I also bought these small ceramic bowls (also from Etsy). I use them for everything – holding dips + other condiments, prepping my mise en place, containing small items on a charcuterie board, and even measuring ingredients. I personally own the white ones, but they come in a handful of different colors to match your personal dishware style!

Thanks lending me your eyes for this week’s visual journey. Have a fabulous weekend and I’ll meet you back here next week!

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