Perfect Storm

I was especially excited upon opening my mailbox today. It contained two birthday cards from my mom (She always sends two b-day cards: One serious and sentimental, and one she finds comedic) plus the February 10^th issue of The New Yorker with a perfectly timed cover, titled “Perfect Storm.”

In case you don’t live in the New York area or follow New Yorkers on Instagram or check weather.com incessantly like I do, it’s been snowy here in NYC. Today we’re experiencing a “wintry mix” of mostly sleet. Anyway I saw this New Yorker and the cover really resonated with me. I think it effectively conveys a snapshot of NYC living. And the image is just beautiful.

The artist, Tomer Hanuka, explains his inspiration here.

Happy Snow Day,

A

beauty & the beard

I was out to dinner with my mom a few weeks ago at a trendy East Village sushi restaurant and she remarked that we were surrounded by young bearded men. I hadn’t even noticed. I've become accustomed to guys of my generation having facial hair. (Much unlike my Grandma Elly who would shudder at the idea.) These days beards are mainstream among young New Yorkers, a trend that just a few years ago was considered quite “hipster” and/or “Brooklyn.” In fact, my beloved husband claims to have been ahead of the curve, what with his beard being established back in 2006. I think Justin’s beard is just adorable. But there might be more to this beard trend than meets the eye. Is the popularity of facial hair contributing to major sales losses for companies like Procter & Gamble? The New York Posts reports on just that, here.

Beards are getting lots of press, and not just for decreased razor sales. Refinery29 posted this piece on “Beardizers.” I’m of course guilty of having a type: tall, dark and bearded. Which according to this article deems me a Beardizer. R29 shares Garance Dore’s theory behind the beard trend in New York: Less is more. Why slave away over the (most likely) tiny bathroom sink when you can skip the shave and still pull off looking put-together? As R29 reports: “It's always nice when a beauty trend allows us to actually do less — we're thinking of the death of perfectly blown-out hair's popularity, the dominance of fuller brows, and the more recent abandonment of tanning.”

Amen sister. And amen bearded men.

A

P.S. New York Times writer Alex Williams’s take on the bearded look takeover here. Plus: What Your Beard Says About You.

 

[Photo via Garance Dore]