racial tensions at lululemon and gen z's aging anxiety
Good morning. Today’s letter will be short and sweet ~ I’m sending out a special Thanksgiving themed letter tomorrow. I know the holiday season can be particularly difficult for some of you, so hopefully it will help you feel less alone.
Today’s news and articles:
-At Lululemon, Being Black is Off Brand
At Lululemon's Hyde Park store in Chicago, staffed primarily by Black associates, employees experienced racial discrimination, leading to internal complaints and EEOC filings. Despite initial success, the store closed in August 2023, with allegations of a corporate culture unwelcoming to Black people and systemic barriers to career advancement. This situation reflects broader challenges within Lululemon's diversity and inclusion efforts.
-The Lasting Pleasures of New Haven Pizza
In line at Libby’s Italian Pastry Shop in New Haven, the author encounters a man distressed by pre-assembled cannoli, leading to a discussion on New Haven's distinctive "apizza" style, with its rich history, famous pizzerias like Frank Pepe, Sally's, and Modern Apizza, and its unique, well-done cooking style, which has gained widespread recognition and inspired pizza places even outside Connecticut.
I’m very excited that Hannah Goldfield has a food column in The New Yorker. She also recently wrote about her favorite restaurants in New York City. If you haven’t noticed by now, food media and food culture are one of my favorite genres of article reading.
-Why Is Gen Z So Obsessed With Fran Lebowitz?
The narrator attends a talk by Fran Lebowitz in Flatbush, reflecting on her unique character and the audience's curiosity about her. Lebowitz, known for her wit, writing, and status as a cultural icon, captivates a diverse audience with her presence and oratory skills. Despite her curmudgeonly demeanor and nostalgia for the past, she embodies a sense of presence and relevance in contemporary culture. The narrator contemplates the anxieties of modern life, such as the pressure to constantly produce and stay relevant. Lebowitz's lifestyle, free from the burden of technology and societal expectations, offers a contrasting approach to living, emphasizing the importance of being present and not overly concerned with legacy or societal pressures.
-Is Wellness Coming To An End?
The shift from wellness-focused culture to more hedonistic and indulgent lifestyles is becoming evident in various sectors. People are moving away from strict wellness regimens to embrace more indulgent and spontaneous experiences. High-end restaurants and exclusive clubs are catering to this desire for opulence, with extravagant menus and settings. The wellness industry, once thriving on offering optimized health and lifestyle products, is witnessing a decline in consumer interest as people grow weary of fads and pseudo-science. Instead, there's a growing preference for simpler pleasures like comfort food, relaxed social gatherings, and a general pushback against the hyper-productive wellness era. This shift suggests a desire for authenticity and enjoyment over perfection and optimization.
Perfect timing for Thanksgiving.
-Gen-Z Is Already Worried About Looking Old
Gen-Z, even as young as 20, is increasingly anxious about aging, opting for makeup with anti-aging benefits and using serums and treatments like Botox for prevention. This shift reflects a deeper concern with self-image, influenced by social media and a desire for perfection, leading to a rise in skincare and cosmetic procedures aimed at slowing the aging process.
-To piggyback off of this topic, TikTok and Instagram Are Turning Gen-Z on to Botox
Influencer Adriene Davidson, influenced by YouTuber Kiki Chanel's positive Botox experience, shared her own Botox journey with her TikTok followers, receiving mostly positive responses. This reflects a growing trend among young people embracing cosmetic procedures for anti-ageing and enhancements, spurred by social media's normalization and demystification of such treatments, leading to an increased demand and shift in beauty industry focus towards younger consumers.
I don’t think any of this is new news, nor is it shocking. It just reiterates the drastic polarity of our digital universe where one minute we’re told that “wellness is coming to an end” and “relax” and “treat yourself”, while simultaneously being fed the narrative that looking youthful as a woman is the only way to feel beautiful and accepted by societal standards.
-How A Bit Of Awe Can Improve Your Health
Awe, described by psychologist Dacher Keltner as the feeling of encountering something vast that transcends understanding, is a critical emotion for well-being, offering benefits like calming the nervous system and quieting negative self-talk. Dr. Keltner's book "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life" explores how awe is not only triggered by grand events but can also be part of everyday life, arising from simple acts like observing kindness or engaging in spiritual practices. Awe, which is distinct from other emotions and activates unique biological responses, can be cultivated through mindfulness, focusing on the moral beauty of others, choosing unfamiliar experiences, and appreciating science and nature.
-Two Books For A Happier Thanksgiving
This piece highlights the allure of books as an escape during the hectic holiday season. The author recommends two particular books, Anjelica Huston's memoir "A Story Lately Told" and Muriel Spark's novel "Symposium," for their captivating stories and engaging storytelling. Huston's memoir is praised for its vivid and tactile memories, offering a glimpse into her glamorous yet complex life, while Spark's novel is lauded for its honest portrayal of a dinner party intertwined with a murder mystery. Both books are suggested as ideal reading to dissociate from the stress of holiday gatherings and find solace in the lives and problems of others.
Okay, that’s all for now. I’m excited to write to you tomorrow about Thanksgiving. I love you all.
Oh, before I leave you, here’s a jazzy autumn playlist to help get you in the spirit.
Bye <3
