The Sexy 6 on Saturday
Some things to buy, read, wear, listen to and think about.
Welcome to the Sexy 6 edition of my Babble newsletter where I share with you the six things I want to pash this week.
1. Kmart socks
Look, I was fine with the whole “skinny jeans are over” thing because I’d already moved onto wide-legged ones. I feel like the skinny jeans times were a collective fever dream of kidding ourselves that something was comfortable when it actually wasn’t. Like g-strings. But this whole socks situation - with Gen Z insisting that you can tell someone’s age by the socks they’re wearing with ankle socks being clear markers of the elderly - has messed with my head.
I did not see this coming.
As someone who owns more trainers than ASOS, I own a similar number of socks and they are all INVISIBLE because I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE POINT. Now, I’m a bit screwed because there is no bandwagon too basic for me to jump on and my socks are all wrong.
There has been much viral chatter about this lately and also at Mamamia because while millennials make up the majority of people I work with (there is a sprinkling of Gen Xers but we are maybe 5%), the next biggest demographic are Gen Z’s and we are all afraid of their judgement.
Here’s a primer about what socks you should be wearing if you’re as insecure as me and as needy for the approval of cool, young people. Otherwise, carry on.
2. MID - the podcast
This week we launched a new podcast called MID - hosted by one of my closest friends and the most popular co-host on Mamamia Outloud, Holly Wainwright. Mid is for Gen X women and elder millenials - basically anyone over 40 who wants to hear conversations about our particular time of life, in all its messy glory. Get it in your ears (the first ep is about mental load and what happens who you lose the plot entirely - Julie Goodwin hit rock bot, spent some time in a mental hospital and is ready to share her experience). Like Gen X women, it’s wise, funny and unapologetic.
3. Ulu Lounge - sustainable fashion
These two Sydney sisters have a sustainable fashion label called Ulu Lounge and they repurpose vintage fabrics into contemporary shapes that all mix and match. Because I’m obsessed with being an ‘autumn’ after getting my colours done, they happened to send me a few bits that work so well back with stuff I already own.
4. Suction phone stickers
I recommended these on Mamamia Outloud last week but I’ve been asked about the one on my phone about 28 times since then so I thought it was worth sharing here. Game changer and not just for influencers who need to record front-facing videos of themselves (yes, I use it for Insta-Babble). It’s also brilliant for just attaching your phone to glass anywhere. The sticker just sticks to the back of your phone case and I’ve bought them for all my friends.
5. A family Uluru Itinerary
I took my kids to Uluru a few years ago when they were much smaller and I wish I’d read this first. Would have been hard since it was only just written but still. Even if you don’t have kids, it’s a great basic plan for a visit to somewhere that’s rightfully on a lot of bucket lists.
6. Disco boots
I bought these sparkle boots from Billini to wear for the Outloud live shows and my god, I have never been brought so alive via footwear. You can’t really see in this photo but it’s like they’re diamante and they just pull on so they’re not tight. I’m now planning to wear them through winter somehow. Suggestions welcome.
NOT SO SEXY…
Barrel-leg jeans. I am so proud to say this is one of the only trends I can recall that I haven’t adopted. Tentatively though, I tried them on a few times because I am brave and also stupid. Even though my eyes were revolted by this shape that makes you look like you just got off a horse after riding across Australia, I thought maybe they would be OK once my eyes adjusted. They were not.
This review of why they’re so heinous is gold.
Meanwhile, here are some jean suggestions you might actually want.
Best jeans for size 14-16
Best wide-legged jeans
Best cheap jeans
The socks conversation is interesting! I actually converted to knee socks (which nobody sees) as I was tired of feeling cold ankles or the area just above. Jeans are the category I truly care about though!
Mia! It is not the first rodeo for this jeans shape….I was born in 1961, squeezed in to the late boomer years and we had these for a very brief moment in the early 80s. They were called paper bag jeans, the fit was scrunched around the waist so slightly different but the leg was definitely the balloon shape. I had a pair.
Being of that era of Princess Di everything I never really got my groove on with the ankle socks. I did try, but they slip off size ten feet and leave your ankles cold. Let me tell you this is truly a boon……crew socks are way more comfortable. Except perhaps in the worst of Sydney humidity.