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The Link Up: The Boots Brian FINALLY Bought For Himself, The Softest Lounge Shorts Ryann Has Ever Worn, And A DIY That Put Our Jaws On The Floor
Hope everyone is having a good Sunday and that fall coziness is in full swing! It’s finally cooling down here in LA (at least for part of the day) and it feels so good. But enough with the weather talk and let’s get into these links…
This week’s house tour is home to Dan John Anderson, Genevieve Dellinger, and their two kids. Dan is a sculptor and is responsible for the incredible wood stools amongst many other pieces you see. We love the modern shapes in those warm, natural materials. This house was originally 900-square-foot and built in 1959. They have slowly been renovating, doubling its size. It’s most definitely a must-see and read. Head here now!
From Emily: After years of wearing Target knock-offs, Brian finally allowed himself to splurge on these shoes for his 44th birthday. It’s a great splurgy present that took him lots of research to find – we couldn’t believe they were at Madewell!
From Ryann: These are the softest, comfiest sweat shorts I have ever put on my body. I first bought them for myself and then after realizing how amazing they are, I got them for all of my bridesmaids in lieu of giving them a bridesmaid robe (those are cute but the bridesmaid robes I have gotten have never ever been worn again). The little dolphin hem on the side makes them really flattering, too. AND they are only $12. 10/10!
From Mallory: I’ve never sailed a day in my life but I saw this sweatshirt from this cute brand I didn’t know about until now and I’m highly considering getting it. It’s so nautical and fun!! They have a lot of cute accessories and shoes if you’re in the market. And if you’re near a store you should go in person…they are SO fun!!
From Jess: My jaw went to the floor when I saw this photo/DIY by Victoria Ford! I’m not necessarily a big Hatty Potter gal but I think this is SUCH a fun way to decorate for Halloween that isn’t scary at all. I know Harry Potter and Halloween aren’t technically related but still…this is incredible. For a full step-by-step head to Victoria’s blog!
Also From Jess: I think I mentioned this hand soap (that also comes in a dish soap and hand location) before but it’s in my top two favorites of all time (and it’s the more affordable one!). I somewhat recently bought a super affordable hand soap and it really isn’t doing it for me. I truly enjoy washing my hands when I use Further soap. Especially with the holidays coming up, this is a soap smell your guests will love and remember.
As I am sure all of you know, the women of Iran, while incredibly strong and brave, still need our help to fight for their basic rights and gender equality. There isn’t a single reason why Mahsa Jina Amini and all the others who have died in solidarity shouldn’t still be alive. Here is an article that gives nine ways to both support financially and/or with your voice. Women, Life, Freedom.
Until tomorrow, enjoy the rest of your Sunday. xx
Opening Image Credits: Design by Dan John Anderson and Genevieve Dellinger | Photo by Laure Joliet | via Architectural Digest
okay, i usually don’t comment on the sunday posts, but i have to say these 2 things:
My grandfather was an immigrant from Macedonia. When he settled he went to Ohio and he and his brother both opened a shoe store about 50 miles apart. They both sold Red Wings.Brians Red Wings will last his entire life if he takes care of them. The workmanship hasnt faltered over time. They are truly works of art. One of my best ever Christmas gifts was a pair of Red Wings from grandpa and grandma.
I was thinking, Red Wings aren’t from Madewell! They are just selling them (along with other shoe brands now, like Birkenstock).
I am a big thrift store treasure hunter. Several years ago, I found a pair of Redwings at a Goodwill boutique store called Deja Blue, in Denver. They were practically brand new, and I paid $25 for them.
I grabbed them for my young adult son, and he’s worn them almost daily since! The very cool thing about Redwings, is that you can bring them into a Redwing store any time for a free polish. They are a lifetime purchase.
Thrifting can be so fun!
I got my son-in-law some Redwings YEARS ago and they are holding up very well. He loves them. He’s a construction worker and not that careful either.
Oy, so many typos.
Did your jaw drop over the HP DIY because people are STILL stanning this franchise here in 2022 despite JK Rowling’s repeated and overt anti-trans bigotry? Because mine did. Please consider the message you are sending your LGBTQIA readers by reposting HP nonsense.
Enough will policing others businesses and blogs with your own opinions. We live in a free speech country where we are allowed to hold different ….nuanced…complex opinions. Your opinion has no more sway than everyone elses and it is extremely controlling and intolerant. You do not speak for a whole group of strangers to you.
Agreed; and have any of the commenters raising objections actually *looked* at articles written by and about Victoria Ford? She’s amazing! Never heard of her before, so I appreciate the link very much.
It’s neither controlling nor intolerant to condemn hateful speech and viewpoints that harm vulnerable populations.
Given JK Rowling’s open stance against trans individuals, it’s disappointing to see the promotion of her work in this space that purports to be inclusive and welcoming.
Agree. Anything that celebrates Rowling’s work drives money to her anti-trans wallet. Please reconsider further amplifying her work.
100% agree. There are plenty of incredible Halloween DIY’s that don’t celebrate the work of a transphobic biggot who is doing a tremendous amount of material harm to trans kids and adults. She is a traitor to the many queers who loved and celebrated her work. If you want to be an inclusive space, you have to honor the people you are trying to include by not perpetuating the work of a living, violent, TERF.
I think this is a really complicated situation! I am a queer person and my partner is trans. We both grew up feeling seen by the HP series because it celebrated people/creatures who were often cast away by society. Today, we both hate JK Rowling and what she stands for. We already owned the books and movies, so we still read and rewatch them and feel okay about it because we aren’t buying products now, or using a streaming device to line her pockets. It’s really hard with any form of art – can it be separated from the artist? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I think in this case, personally it is hard because we are disgusted by her stances but the books and movies in our mind are almost unrelated, so we can consumed them (royalty free) and have the same feelings we did when we were young. As such, when I saw this DIY it actually struck me as a good thing. It’s how people have taken this story and made it about more than just one author. Theresa huge community of creators around the HP world that aren’t JK and don’t share her beliefs and they are… Read more »
Really eloquently said. ?
I hear this, as a fellow queer and GNC person. I too grew up with and loved the books so deeply – my age was exactly Harry’s age throughout, so I was 10 when the first came out and a sobbing 17 year old at the end of the last book. I saw myself in so many characters, and her books definitely influenced my coming-out journey. For me, it is far easier to separate the artist from the art when the artist isn’t alive, actively perpetuating harm. I am a PhD candidate, and work with trans adolescents and adults. JK Rowling, with her massive platform and income, is actively perpetuating damage to my incredibly vulnerable patient population (particularly in the UK) by publicly perpetuating violence against transwomen, conflating transwomen with perpetuators of sexual violence. She claims it to be about safety for women, but is using the strawman of transness for hatred and bigotry. I do appreciate the nuance of what you are saying, and I too am trying to find the way forward with my young children, who I started reading Harry Potter to when they were born, before I knew of Rowling’s politics, but now know and love… Read more »
I think this makes a lot of sense, Kat! I agree with you, and I do still feel the gut punch when I see HP sadly but I know lots of people are trying to “reclaim” the series in way, like how Quidditch is now Quadball. As I said, endlessly complicated.
Also, Kat, thanks for the work you do for the trans community!
Also queer and gender queer, and tbh, until I saw these comments I was about to abandon Emily Henderson (blog, sorry I know that’s also actually your name) because I felt like I wasn’t welcome here. I think the trouble with the nuance approach is that we do need to put public and private into context. And unfortunately, publicly aligning yourself with Harry Potter has become a way to publicly align yourself with TERF ideologies and to identify yourself as a TERF. I also grew up with them, also loved them, can enjoy those memories and whatnot privately (though ngl it still hurts a lot) but I still make the decision not to be publicly announcing that choice because I know how few spaces are out there where I feel safe in all of my queer glory and where I won’t be at risk of violence and I don’t need to make other people feel like they have one less place they can go. I know it doesn’t feel like as big of a deal to everyone but, honestly, it kinda is.
If I can add actually, like since it now holds that significance in online spaces I think if you’re going to say something about Harry Potter and you don’t want to align yourself as a TERF, I would be looking for you to explicitly state that you don’t stand with JKR and her terf rhetoric. And if you don’t want to get political (though this blog has in the pst) then maybe just don’t share Harry Potter stuff?
Enough will policing others businesses and blogs with your own opinions. We live in a free speech country where we are allowed to hold different ….nuanced…complex opinions. Your opinion has no more sway than everyone elses and it is extremely controlling and intolerant. You do not speak for a whole group of strangers to you.
It’s neither controlling nor intolerant to condemn hateful speech and viewpoints that harm vulnerable populations.
“what is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist” Salman Rushdie
The absolutely most disappointing part about this whole experience is the radio silence from the authors of this blog. Do you really not have anything to say about the inclusion of this work? If someone had pointed out to you that you were celebrating the work of a famously rabid anti-semite, or violent anti-muslim, would you just ignore it and go on with business as usual? If not, why is this case any different?
Why not buy the boots from Red Wing directly?
Because Madewell is a sponsor and Red Wing isn’t?
This seems really unkind. This is a free site with free content written by people who have bills to pay. If you want the content, you have to be ok with the monetization.
Seems factual, not unkind.
I agree.
Am I the only one who can’t see the house tour? It wants me to have a subscription.
The link worked for me. Maybe try a different browser or searching for “inside-sculptor-dan-john-andersons-handcrafted-desert-compound” to find it? I can’t believe how amazing their renovation “after” is! They took the “basic nice-but-boring flipper aesthetic (white shaker cabs/gray shiny concrete floor)” and created a true masterpiece.
Yes!! THANK YOU for bringing attention to what has been happening in Iran! The lack of coverage in the media has been so disheartening. Women’s rights are human rights!!
i can’t see the house tour either. says i’ve used up my free times. possible to unlock like some bloggers do when there’s a NYT piece?
This is for Jess – what does the hand soap smell like? I clicked on the link, and the bottle is beautiful. I’m just particular about scents! TY
Guess my carpenter Dad is now hip in his Red Wings. They used to just be considered “work boots” for tradespeople, definitely not fashionable. Back in the day, could only buy them at Red Wing stores. I loved going with him every 2-3 years when he got new ones, that strong leather smell when you walked in the door was heavenly.