Issue 14: The F**k it Era
French TV is having a moment, plus lessons in giving, and Why Not?
When I started writing this issue it was midway through Fall, most people’s favourite season. Temperatures were higher than average, offering summer warmth and blue skies that begged for daily walks. In the blink of an eye it’s mid-November, freezing and basically Christmas. I can’t get a pumpkin latte to save my life. The timing of the holiday season switch can feel overwhelming and frankly obnoxious at the retail level, but embracing aspects of it early can be fun. Leaning into holiday decorating (greenery and candles now, lights and stockings later) is a nice way to extend the season and add some warmth to the home as darkness sets in. Throw on a sweater, make a cup of tea and settle into pre-holiday bliss.
La Maison & Drops of God
The French do many things well, and they would argue better than most. Lifestyle, culture, food, wine, style…the list goes on. But I’ve never gotten fully behind French entertainment, especially music. There are of course many classic French films and lately some good TV shows have been popping up on Netflix like Call My Agent, Lupin and The Parisian Agency.
The season finale of La Maison airs this week on Apple TV+, a sumptuous “French Succession” family drama set in the fashion world in Paris. Rival families of competing luxury fashion houses scheme, backstab, bed and outwit each other to be number one, or to remain there at all costs. The first episode was confusing, then it got it’s footing, and now I’ll be sorry for it to end. I may also need to go back and watch it again without subtitles to take in the stunning scenery, settings and style.
French actress Amira Casar is fierce as the reinvented Perle, impeccably styled in chic black outfits and severely pulled back hair, while Anne Consigny’s Marie Ledu, the ‘Shiv Roy’ of the group, is a razor-thin redhead with a Sonia Rykiel vibe and that effortless French style you can’t stop looking at. What a treat to see Carole Bouquet, the classic face of Chanel No. 5 in those unforgettable Chanel ads from the late 1980’s (directed by Ridley Scott, no less) stunning and ruthless as Diane Rovel, the fictitious wealthiest woman in France. These ladies, all in their 50s and 60s, are the standouts of the show.
La Maison also offers an interesting glimpse into the world of fashion maisons and the designers behind them. There’s the ongoing conflict of remaining pure with hand-sewn haute couture creations for loyal clientele who pay the bills, or staying current in today’s world of cutting edge technology, social media and sustainability. Add a dash of narcissism, nepotism, bad spouses, horrible mothers, and drop-dead homes and La Maison delivers.
Next up will be the French-American-Japanese drama about wine, aptly named Drops of God, that everyone is raving about. French TV is having a moment. Review to come.
Lessons in Giving - Julie Mehretu
As the holidays approach and cards get maxed, it’s also time for giving back and making donations to favourite charities. Over the past year I was on the Board of a foundation and got to see first hand the delicate dance of relationship-building with major donors. Whether it’s the naming of a wing or the tone of a press release, donors want to make an impact.
I came across an article in the WSJ about the artist Julie Mehretu, an Ethiopian American contemporary artist known for her large-scale abstract paintings. Mehretu has won acclaim and broken barriers throughout her career, including setting an auction record for an African artist at Sotheby’s Hong Kong for her 2001 painting ‘Untitled’. She has been named a Time 100 influencer and been awarded the Medal of Arts by the White House, among other accolades.
The WSJ headline that caught my eye said that The Whitney Museum in NYC would be free for all visitors 25 years and younger, and that it had artist Julie Mehretu to thank. In fact, Mehretu had donated over $2 million to the museum so that it could waive the entrance fee for the next 3 years. Talk about making an impact. Not only is she a legendary artist but she has a knack for philanthropy. How fulfilling it must be to see tangible results of giving. I hope others follow her lead.
Julie Mehretu is currently exhibiting at Palazzo Grassi in Venice.
The F**k It Era
An interview with the actress Gillian Anderson went viral recently, not about her award-winning portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Crown or her iconic role as Agent Scully in cult favourite The X-Files. It was in response to her views on aging.
At 56, Anderson’s career is on fire, from TV roles in The Fall and Sex Education, to award-winning stage turns, and writing a science fiction trilogy to start. She’s dating the writer of The Crown, and frankly has never looked better. I didn’t know a lot about her, but I have a newfound respect.
The interview revealed that she’s coined this time in her life as her ‘Fuck it’ era, and encourages others to follow suit.
“I know quite a few women mid-50s and 60s, who are really questioning ‘Is this it?’
I say f**k it and just have fun. Why not?? Do what you want. Start a business. Go back to school. Go on a journey. Go traveling. So many things to do. Have fun.” -Gillian Anderson
This sentiment is catching on. Actress Mariska Hargitay recently said turning 60 was the start of her “badass era” and that in her 50s she was preparing for it by working through her shit. She now has clarity on who she is and a narrower focus on what’s important for her next chapter.
I too have friends contemplating this stage of life, wondering what to do next, where to live, and so on. Middle-age and upper middle-age is so different today, and if you’re lucky, there’s indeed another chapter to embrace that our society hasn’t figured out what to do with yet. What I love about these discussions is that everyone is going through it, asking the big questions, and pondering ‘What if’? It’s like an ongoing brainstorm of possibilities with no bad ideas.
And why not indeed? Instead of worrying about the worst case scenario as we age, why not think about the best?
F**k it is already one of my favourite sayings, now it’s my mantra too.
The Paris Novel
Ruth Reichl’s delightful book, The Paris Novel, was the perfect choice to get me reading again. Recommended at the bookstore around the corner where they had a table of novels based in Paris, the cover unsurprisingly won me over. The premise, a woman named Stella living a regimented life in Manhattan gets a ticket to Paris from her deceased mother, tries on a vintage Dior dress and starts to have a life. (Interestingly, in Netflix’s Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, a Dior dress also has the power to change a woman).
As an ex-food critic for the LA and NY Times before becoming a novelist, Ruth Reichl has a way with writing about food that will leave you salivating, and her descriptions of notable Paris landmarks like Shakespeare & Co and the ‘tumbleweeds’ that live there paint a beautiful picture of Stella’s journey to finding herself and creating her family. This is a perfect holiday book, an enjoyable read from start to finish.
Labadie Loves
Wine Keepsakes
I’ve written about the stunning Château La Coste winery near Aix-en-Provence, and a friend recently returned from visiting it on my suggestion. Not only did she love it but she lugged back a bottle of their delicious rosé as a gift. Noticing that their empty wine bottles are used as water carafes on the tables in their lovely café, she thought I might do the same. Genius! Wine bottles with the crest engraved into the glass make wonderful keepsakes, as this one will do even when the label wears off. I keep this filled with chilled water in the door of the fridge, taking me back to Provence for a stolen moment.
Coming Up
Holiday Gift Guide - last minute finds for friends and family, coming December 5
Another fantastic edition! Love the message, very relevant & timely. Congratulations on another awesome newsletter!!
Love this read! Getting a jump start at my “F**k it Era” already! 🔥