Luxury Shopper’s New BFF: Substack 💖

Music-centric marketing strategies, Limited Too 2.0, and the resurgence of acupressure mats.

Sarah: It’s one of those months—busy but in the best way. Last night, I saw The Book of Mormon. A few days ago, I got back from WV, and tomorrow, I’m off to western PA. Fallingwater’s been on my bucket list for years, and I’m finally going to see it in all its fall glory.

Kristin: The leaves are changing in upstate New York, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s crispy, it’s layering season, and I’m drinking mulled cider. Peak happiness. Then I’m off to Tulum next week for a wedding so I just got some gorgeous dresses from Nuuly.

Follow along on our travels because we’ll definitely both be posting.
@sarah___barnes @kristinsimon_

---

Luxury Shopper’s New BFF: Substack. With luxury prices only rising, people aren’t rushing into big purchases—they’re doing their homework. Enter Substack. Newsletters like The Love List by Jess Graves, Magasin by Laura Reilly, and WIPOT by Meg Strachan give the kind of long-form, thoughtful reviews Instagram just can’t. Debating the Toteme bucket bag or The Row’s Margaux? Up to this point, ads on Substack have been nonexistent, but I’ve been noticing more this week, so it’ll be interesting to see how this evolution alters the platform. -S

Beauty’s Still Thriving—But Is the Bubble About to Pop? Inflation is making life more expensive, but beauty is thriving. By mid-August, NielsenIQ saw a +6.2% boost in beauty sales, and both prestige and mass markets are riding that wave. But here’s the catch: 43% of consumers say they’re worse off financially than last year, and 36% are sweating over rising costs. While beauty's always been the affordable escape—think lipsticks, fragrances, and even fancy deodorants—the next 12 months could get tricky. Affordable, feel-good formulas and experiences will keep momentum throughout the holiday season. -S

Limited Too is Back Back With Millennial Clothing. All of the nostalgic millennials were stoked for the comeback of Limited Too, but severely disappointed that it was for children. Well, Limited Too heard them and adjusted accordingly. Known for iconic sports tees with rolled sleeves, glittery lip glosses, and cloud-print pajamas, the brand has made a comeback after rebranding as Justice in 2008 and is now being sold at Kohl’s. A mini adult-size collection, “LTD 2.0,” drops October 15, with a full line coming in spring 2025. Fans are buzzing, but they're hoping for that bold, colorful Y2K vibe to make its grand return. -K

limitedtoo

A post shared by @limitedtoo

---

---

Sounds Like a Trend: Brands, Music, and Marketing Collide. If there’s one thing brands like Gap and H&M are getting right this year, it’s tapping into music to move products—and people. From Gap’s viral dance campaigns starring Tyla and Troye Sivan to H&M's global music events featuring Charli XCX, fashion is now doubling as a soundtrack. The strategy is simple: if you can’t beat fast fashion competitors on price or speed, win over younger, pop-culture-obsessed consumers with a music-centric marketing strategy. And, based on nearly 30 million views for Gap’s latest campaign, it’s working. -S

@awalthis new gap campaign with jungle and tyla is sooo good #jungle #gap #tyla #backon74 @Jungle

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

October Theory. Social media has taken storm with it’s latest theory: October Theory. October is more than just the start of spooky season for many—it’s the perfect time to hit reset before the New Year. As the energy of summer fades, fall’s quieter vibe gives us space to reflect and focus on personal growth. This 90-day lead-up to January is all about setting new goals, whether that’s a fresh fitness routine, healthier habits, or just slowing down and recharging. It’s no surprise that October’s cozy, balanced energy makes it ideal for transformation. With the seasons shifting, it’s the perfect time to check in with yourself, get mindful, and start laying the groundwork for your next glow-up before the new year arrives. -K

@kellysitesI am loving seeing the glow up I do every October. It might be my new favorite month #october #octobermood #octobertheory #glowup

Tiktok failed to load.

Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser

Dockworkers' Strike Suspended (For Now), But the Backlog Looms. The dockworkers' union has decided to hit pause on the strike until January 15, allowing time for negotiations to unfold post-holiday. But let’s not sugarcoat it: that three-day disruption left a backlog of at least 54 ships, sparking concerns of a shortage for banana lovers and auto enthusiasts alike. Industry analysts suggest that every day of a port strike, it can take four to six days to bounce back, so while the strike is suspended, some delays are likely on the horizon. -S

Acupressure Mats Are Trending Because of Taylor Swift. Gracie Abrams recently revealed in an interview that Taylor Swift uses an acupressure mat for her back pain after shows. Essentially, it’s a mat with little plastic spikes that you put on the floor and lay on for 20-30 minutes for best results. The mat applies pressure to the body, helping with stress, headaches and pain. As someone who has owned an acupressure mat, I do think it feels really satisfying and good to lay on. Though I haven’t noticed anything life-changing, it’s one of those tools I like to use alongside others for optimal health. Plus, it’s just $25 on Amazon. -K

It’s fascinating to see how effectively celebrities and influencers can move products and engineer demand. I took a deep dive into Google search trends and found that while searches for acupressure mats typically peak in late December, the week of September 10, 2024, saw a dramatic spike—doubling the search volume compared to the same week last year. In fact, September 10, 2023, recorded one of the lowest search volumes in the past two years. -S

Kamala Harris’s Call Her Daddy Debut: A Tactical Balancing Act. Kamala Harris’s recent stint on Call Her Daddy has everyone talking. In a week filled with carefully curated appearances, this was a calculated move to engage with younger, undecided voters. The 40-minute conversation steered clear of the podcast’s usual raunchy antics to share her personal journey and campaign talking points, avoiding hot-button issues like illegal immigration and the Biden administration’s response to Hurricane Helene. Sure, it provided some feel-good sound bites, but let’s be real: it was more about keeping up appearances than diving into the hard truths voters actually care about. The reactions? Mixed at best. Viewers took to social media, expressing disappointment and labeling the episode as “propaganda,” with one remarking, “Call her daddy was more important than the millions who could use aid with rebuilding their homes?” It’s a sentiment echoing the frustration that Harris would engage in a lighthearted chat during a crisis. She’s not the first to tap into popular media—just look at Barack Obama’s Between Two Ferns stint—and this is no different. -S

alexandracooper

A post shared by @alexandracooper

Everybody Wants Nobody Wants This. If you haven’t heard about the show Nobody Wants This, now you have. Netflix’s new show, directed by Erin and Sarah Foster and starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, has been all anybody’s been talking about. I’ve personally gotten three separate recommendations from friends and people talking about it on the pop culture podcasts I subscribe to. It’s a show about two sisters with a sex podcast and their dating adventures in LA. It feels very… real, discussing anxious avoidant attachment style and even though it’s a romcom, it hits home in a ‘I feel seen’ kind of way. Slate says it's popular simply because everyone’s crushing on Adam Brody. No matter the reason, I’d say it’s worth a watch. It’s good, but I’m not obsessed. -K

---

What We're Wearing

Kristin: Perfect for fall, I’m wearing and rewearing this Free People shirt dress from Nuuly.

Sarah: [BLANKNYC] Carried Away Crochet Jacket

What We're Buying

Kristin: I saw this Sound Renewel Cream at SunLife Organics in LA. I was drawn to it’s packaging, perfect YUKA score (this app rates product toxicity — please try it), and I tried it and it felt amazing. Did not buy it yet, but plan to when I need moisturizer.

Sarah: I recently picked up U Beauty's The SUPER Tinted Hydrator, and it’s a game-changer. It's lightweight yet packed with nourishing ingredients like purified oat extract and shea butter. The formula self-adjusts and hydrates skin for up to 48 hours, giving off a dewy, glowing look.

What We're Watching/Listening To

Kristin: Watching the popular Nobody Wants This on Netflix.

Sarah: Varnamtown, where Kyle MacLachlan and investigative journalist Joshua Davis investigate a wild rumor linking a small North Carolina town to Pablo Escobar. Over two years, they knock on doors to uncover what happens when a flood of money and cocaine crashes into a tight-knit community.

---

---

*Disclaimer: All opinions are our own, and our articles are provided for educational and informational purposes and do not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.