This past month has provided a chaotic cocktail of launches and love. My book, How to Be Fabulous, came out on the 28th of November and since then I’ve organised & hosted a gorgeous launch in Sydney and then in Melbourne as well as helping host a secondhand & sustainable Christmas shopping night. My family have also visited from New Zealand as well as my boyfriend from Los Angeles. It’s all been absolutely wonderful, but it’s also been a lot (at this point, especially combined with the usual December fatigue, I’m feeling burnt out down to my bones).
Writing and publishing my first book has been a whirlwind. It’s been a process riddled with challenges and triumphs, a learning curve that I’m ultimately very grateful for. For all of the hard times throughout this process, the most healing thing has been seeing my book in the hands of those I love, and also hearing from new readers.
So I thought I’d share a little snapshot of my Sydney launch at the beautiful boutique, Grand Days, in order to share the mood. Then we’ll get on to this month’s recommendations…
Read: Le Divorce by Diane Johnson, 1997
Far from the trending new books of today, this month I’ve been looking back to the recent past for things to read. For no particular reason, I have plenty of new stories to consume (Good Material by Dolly Alderton is currently sitting idle in my audible account, ready to be listened to at the beach over the break), I suppose I’m just feeling a little nostalgic - and also curious to consume earlier trends.
Le Divorce came to me in a bid to research novels based on ex-pats (the protagonist in the novel I’m working on being just that) and also to read the story that was the seed for one of my favourite films (also called Le Divorce and starring on of my favourite actors, Naomi Watts, alongside Kate Hudson).
The premise of the book is in some ways a little ridiculous, but also totally charming. A young woman from Santa Barbara is sent to console her pregnant step-sister in Paris, who has just been left by her French husband. The (Le) divorce which ensues is seemingly straightforward until the value of a painting the Paris-based daughter had brought to Paris with her as she relocated is unveiled.
What I admire so much about how Diane Johnson writes is her acute observations from the first person. She is so detailed in the way she describes everything from the perspective of her chatty protagonists.
Diane herself has had an incredible career as a writer, starting as an intern alongside Sylvia Plath (the same era The Bell Jar was based on) and going on to such projects as adapting The Shining for screen (seriously). At 89 years old, Diane remains a splendid storyteller whose work I hope to read more of.
Watch: How to Be Famous, TV Special from Spy Magazine, 1990
More How to’s and more 90s, but first allow me to explain myself for this month’s admittedly obscure recommendation…
I am an Air Mail addict; Air Mail being the brilliant weekly publication from Graydon Carter (ex-Spy, New York Times, Vanity Fair, etc). Described as being “news at a civilised pace” what I adore most about this online hub is the quality of the journalism. Honestly, other than Substack, it’s basically the only thing I read religiously.
In my Air Mail deep-dive I’ve been consuming old bits and bobs of the Spy Magazine archive - Spy being the saucy, satirical rag which ruled 90s New York. And in my digging I came across this bizarre and brilliant TV special by them on Youtube, called How to Be Famous.
Hosted by Jerry Seinfeld (very early 90s indeed) the mockumentary breaks down what it takes to be a star. From having handlers to launching a perfume, but also caring about obscure causes and wearing something revealing on a talk show, this special is thoroughly perceptive and amusing.
Wear: Load of new (old) clothes
Despite my being in the midst of a final clothes cull ahead of my move to L.A., I’ve also been bloody naughty and been bloody shopping. Rather shamelessly I put this down to re-reading my own book…!
You see when you write a book you tend to work on many other things, and write many other words, in between pushing send on manuscript and seeing the book on shop shelves. I can also be forgetful, so I’ve re-read my book ahead of any media engagements in order to really be prepared to discuss it.
In that I’ve revisited my fashion mantra (read the book for more on that) and my love for vintage. It’s strange because, as I’ve written on this Substack before, I haven’t felt as connected to shopping over this past year due to my living out of a suitcase. However, in practising what I preach, I’ve recently found a few new beautiful bits to add to my wardrobe.
My recent haul consists of a pair of fabulous pedal pushers, a vintage blue & cream basque and a lovely leopard print dress you’ll see me in below.
Overall I’m happy with my new wardrobe additions, two of three of them being preloved. It’s made me feel more myself and ready to make an authentic style statement as I move across the world and start my next chapter.
Some BnB housekeeping:
Next fortnight I’ll be sharing a full feature on “The Woman Behind Marilyn’s Style”. This post will be free to read, however it’ll act as a taster for the paid content to come in 2024.
I’ve learnt so much experimenting here on Substack alongside my freelance work writing for a range of Australian publications and lifestyle brands. During this time I’ve also written and published a book and completed an advanced writing course. Despite my having grown as a writer a lot in the last few years, and my knowing I’m now writing at a level worth charging adequately for, my antipodean, tall poppy self still finds it excruciating asking for dosh in exchange for my work. However I need to begin to charge the price of a coffee each month (just $5 USD) in order to sustain this Substack so I can spend more time researching, writing and sharing engaging articles you just won’t find in modern day glossies. From 2024 these will all sit behind a paywall, however the monthly Read, Watch, Wear piece will remain free.
In 2024 I’m looking to explore the stories behind style as we know it, 20th century pop culture as well as my other, lesser known, field of expertise: interior design (in a past life I was an interior designer, in fact!). As more of a community builds I also think it would be wonderful to arrange some kind of monthly meet up - one thing I enjoy most about being a paid subscriber on Substack’s such as Things Worth Knowing from
is the community they’ve created so I hope to do something similar here.I’ll also be taking January off from Substack (all paid subscriptions will be paused during that time, not to mention anytime I’m on a break, hence you’ll never lose out if you upgrade to paid) as I make the move across the pacific ocean.
So, see you next fortnight and then see you in February, where so much fabulousness awaits.
If you haven’t got your copy of How to Be Fabulous, what are you waiting for?