Sale PSA: An embroidered tunic from Free People, now 40% off, a metallic down jacket from Athleta, now $160, a classic black envelope clutch from The Row, now 50% off, a fun cover up/caftan from Tory Burch, now 40% off (I love caftans), and a cute linen mini dress from Theory, now $150.
1. A fun Valentine’s Day gift idea – this turquoise bracelet, from Piaget.
I love the entire Possession line and have been eyeing several pieces for a while. It’s subtle, fun, and a great alternative to VCA Alhambra. Another plus – they have turquoise! (and are owned by Richemont and thus VCA shouldn’t have supply issues there either…). This bracelet is a decent price (for luxury fine jewelry) and the turquoise a fun pop of color on your wrist.
PS: if my name began with a P I would have already bought it. Too bad all I have for my initial are all the Kardashian items.
2. A few articles I’ve been meaning to share for a while – the first few are about the author Elizabeth Wurtzel, who wrote Prozac Nation, and who passed away a month ago. I still remember this piece she wrote, originally published via The Cut – My One Night Stand of a Life. And next, read this followup, written in 2018 during her cancer battle, in The Guardian.
3. Another article I’ve been meaning to post – this piece, via Jing Daily, about different sorts of luxury consumers in China. I originally saved this to post this in early January, before all the news about coronavirus. Obviously the landscape has changed a lot. I’m actually obsessed with the topic but don’t want to get too much into it here…it’s scary and emotional.
4. Do you have an au pair? Or know anyone with one? I was surprised there wasn’t more news about this ruling about them getting paid minimum wage.
5. This week, I read A Woman Like Her, by Sanam Maher.
The book is the story of Qandeel Baloch, one of the first “social media” stars in Pakistan, who was compared to the country’s Kim Kardashian, until she was murdered by her brother. I had heard about Qandeel when it first happened but just in little bits – I knew almost nothing about her, or how/why she had become a star, and also the sort of larger cultural moment which led to her murder. If you’re interested in reading more about Pakistan, its culture, or even just a story of social media and why some people seem to want “attention” from the internet – I highly recommend A Woman Like Her. Still thinking about it.
13 Comments
Chloe
February 7, 2020 at 3:46 pmI live in So Cal. A friend of mine hired her au pair via care.com. $15 an hour for one child. $20 for both. She loves it. She found an au pair that fits her requirements. When the baby is sleeping, the au pair cleans the house. Her friends also use that website. My friend works full-time. Not a big deal having an au pair. I know a lot of co-workers that had one growing up (asian included) and they are executives or upper managers. So no big deal especially if you do not have a parent or in-laws to help.
I highly suggest you get one if you are considering. Congrats in the major book deal! I just saw this link.
https://www.losaltosonline.com/news/sections/business/183-business-features/57171-writing-what-she-knows-la-resident-secures-major-deal-for-debut-novel
Can’t wait to see your second book release.
Anonymous
February 7, 2020 at 4:22 pmI think you might be referring to a nanny (who may be found via care.com). As Kay may know, an au pair is typically a foreign student/recently graduated young adult found through an official international au pair agency, who you host in your home with room, board, health benefits and a weekly allowance in exchange for them helping to take care of your kids ( maximum 40 hr week limit). In most states, outside of Massachusetts, you don’t pay a minimum wage because of such benefits provided by the host family and this sort of arrangement is viewed more as an immersion exchange experience rather than an employer-employee relationship. – from a mother who has had both nannies and au pairs
Anonymous
February 7, 2020 at 4:23 pm*Kat
Anonymous
February 10, 2020 at 10:39 amcorrect, this is likely a local nanny (or an au pair who is working illegally for another family during her off time). A legal au pair has to come through an agency, can only work for one family, and can only stay for one year unless they meet their educational requirements and can find a family for a second year. all must return home after year two ends.
Phil
February 7, 2020 at 3:54 pmPiaget (along with Boucheron and Chaumet) are so underrated! Which is good ?
Ahhhsoneo
February 8, 2020 at 2:35 amI used to have Prozac nation in my to-read list, but the two articles linked above have assured its deletion. I read about 3 quarters of the first and two paragraphs of the cancer one. I kept waiting for a reason to like her and had to admit to myself that i found her awful and uninteresting. I did like her comment that women who have it all should try the anxiety of women who have nothing. Touché.
Enjoyed reading about the China luxury buyer. Do you think, that other than age and income , brands are now differentiating their markets based on the amount of data on us that is now available to them?
Jen
February 8, 2020 at 8:42 amI loved Elizabeth Wurtzel. I was able to attend a reading of hers in NYC years ago and she was quite lovely. Much softer than I imagined from some of her writing. I had nannies and mother’s helpers when my children were small, but never an au pair. Many of the nannies here are grossly underpaid based on the way the work permits are arranged. It was hard to find a service that would coordinate paying a living wage. It was quite eye opening for me.
Jenna
February 10, 2020 at 10:37 amI am a few months in to hosting my second au pair. I think many do not realize the extra costs that go into hosting, and that these most of these girls pay for nothing once they are here other then their own social plans/shopping/travel. Yes, there are always a few bad apples (host families, au pairs, local nannies, etc etc) who abuse the system and do not follow the rules. For my family personally, we pay the au pair $25 a month for gas to drive our kids to swim lessons and the library etc ($300 annually) $200 a month to lease a fuel efficient, small vehicle, $2000 down payment for car, about $1500 to insure her, a brand new iphone for her use while here (not sure of cost to be honest), a flight from Connecticut to our home town about $170, $8610 directly to the agency, $500 direct to au pair for her education credits (6 credit hours), $280 to apply to agency, not to mention upgrades to her room (which are one time costs), increased food bills, we pay for activities when she joins us ie movies, outings, gifts for Christmases and birthdays, etc. There are strict rules in terms of the amount of hours they are allowed to work, and time off. I personally do everything possible to accommodate their requests for time off to travel in the US, and we include au pairs in everything we do as a family (their choice to join, we do not make it mandatory). I think perhaps more oversight is necessary, by the Local Community Counselor’s (each agencies local au pair group has one), to make sure families are following the rules for hours worked and tasks given to the ap (ie it would not be appropriate for me to ask her to do my own laundry, but I can ask her to do the kids). Perhaps the agency fees should be reduced and they shouldn’t get such a large cut, because after the au pair arrives they basically do nothing. I do feel terrible for au pairs who are taken advantage of, but I also know many of the MA families were mislead by their agencies about the possibility of this going through and have been scrambling for childcare in a high cost state; nor do I think a young adult from ages 18-27 who is coming for one year is in need of the same protections as local domestic workers who are responsible for all of their own living expenses.
Kat
February 10, 2020 at 2:05 pmLove this very thorough explanation – you are right, just as with nanny/nanny families there is a huge range in perks and benefits and experiences, so it also goes for au pairs. What are the MA families you know currently doing? It must be a HUGE shock, with childcare already being so $$$ – I’m doing preschool + nanny at the moment and its a ridiculous amount
Jenna
February 11, 2020 at 9:13 amsome have left the au pair program. Their au pairs have a two week “rematch” period to find a new family (and it’s easier if the family is with the same agency as their current host family). If they cannot find a new family, they get sent home. If they have not fulfilled their one year commitment, they are responsible for paying their own way to their home country. other’s are continuing to pay the same stipend (which only gets them like 15 hours of care or so) and making other arrangements for the other hours (increased daycare, school aftercare, etc). Some have bit the bullet and kept the schedule the same, with the increased costs, but cut back on extras like taking their au pair on vacations or including them in outings.
Anonymous
February 11, 2020 at 9:14 amin addition, many have removed other perks (cancelled car insurance if they really didn’t need a driver, cheaper cell phone/sim card, less bonuses, gym memberships)
Ammu
February 11, 2020 at 12:12 amI have been meaning to read that Qandeel Baloch book for a while… . You have given me one more reason to pick it up 🙂
A friend and colleague of mine paid tribute to her after she was murdered — I think this line about the lazy comparisons made between her and western reality stars nailed the meaning she brought to her devastatingly short life. “She wasn’t seeking the spotlight, she was seizing it, and turning its full glare on Pakistan.” https://correspondent.afp.com/i-wish-id-sent-message
You may
Rachel
February 20, 2020 at 10:18 amAu Pairs aren’t common among my circle of friends, but a handful have them. It seems like a lot of stress to have a young adult living in your home, but for some it works well and everyone seems very happy.