INSIDE

Good morning,

Tuesday, I sat in a room listening to some of the smartest women in media talk about what comes next.

The panel was hosted by Ms. magazine, and one message came through loud and clear: women are going to need independent media. At the end, I raised my hand, introduced myself as the founder of a new magazine, and asked what advice they had for us.

The answer was remarkably consistent: Know your audience. Know their pain points. Stay true to them.

Twenty-four hours later, 30 of us sat down for our first PROVOKED pop-up lunch.

Most of the women had never met. One told me it took all her courage to walk into a restaurant and have lunch with a room full of strangers. By the end, she said she'd made 10 new friends and that coming was the best thing she'd done in a very long time. We laughed. We teared up talking about stories we've published on caregiving, motherhood, and lost friendships. Women told us what resonates and what they want more of.

Somewhere in there, I realized the advice I'd been given the day before was sitting right in front of me.

Know your audience.

Today, I got to have lunch with ours. We're on the right track. And we're doing it again.

Houston and DC, you're up next.

Want an invitation? Join PROVOKEDplus.

— Susan

WELLNESS

Untangling the Honey Plot

BY LARISSA ZIMBEROFF

That innocent-looking honey bear may be holding more than you bargained for. Some honey is diluted with cheap syrups, some is processed until much of its character is lost, and even sophisticated testing can miss the fraud. Here's how to tell what you're buying.
​
​Read this piece​

This is a paid sponsorship with Soft Surroundings.

Two Pieces Get You Dressed. The Third Gets You Noticed.

My uniform has worked for years. September asked for one more thing.

My uniform is a long-sleeved tee, wide-leg jeans, a stack of bracelets, and tennis shoes or loafers. I've worn this classic version for years. It says exactly what I want it to say, and I don't have to think about it at 7 a.m.

Then September shows up, and the uniform needs one more thing.

Stylists call it the third piece: top, bottom, then a jacket, a cardigan, a vest, or a scarf. It doesn't change the outfit. It finishes it. And it's the easiest way to take a look you already love into a new season without starting over.

You don't need a new wardrobe. You need the piece that works with the one you have.

Here's what I'd reach for from Soft Surroundings. The Faux Suede Artist Jacket, over a black tee and loafers. I'm wearing this to go pumpkin picking with the grandsons in early October. The Marled Metallic Fringe Trim Sweater Vest is great with a tee and jeans for a hint of shimmer. The Space Dye Cardigan brings texture and color to a plain white tee. I love the hand-made look, something from a very good yarn shop. The Meria Zip Cardi, ivory with a gold zipper, is polished enough for a meeting and soft enough for the couch afterward. The Lightweight Quilted Zip Front Vest keeps your core warm and your arms free. And the Penny Paisley Square Bandana Scarf goes at the neck, waist, or on the handle of your bag.

That's what we like about Soft Surroundings' Life in Layers collection. Soft knits, cardigans, jackets, and toppers meant to be mixed, matched, and peeled off as necessary, available in Misses, Petites, and Women's Plus.

None of it is precious. That's the point.

Two pieces get you dressed. The third one tells people you know what you're doing.

TAKE NOTE
​Timely and worth your attention.

LIFE

She Used to Love to Swim. So Did I.

BY LAUREN SPENCER

A stranger on oxygen, a free rug, and a confession: “I used to love to swim.” Some things we hear from other women come back years later as prophecy. Only then do we understand what they were trying to tell us.​
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​Read this piece​

READER SPOTLIGHT

“Now in my late 60s after decades solo, I carve out and revel in solo time. In my early 40s after uncoupling from numerous relationships, I learned to create a life that thrilled me. Over two decades solo, I’m deeply in love and still carve out solo time. I encourage women of all ages to go solo for their souls.” —Keri on ​Crone Alone: Why Solitude Is My Healthy New Addiction​

Want to be featured next? Comment on your favorite piece—we read them all.

MOST READ LAST WEEK

​Your Bones Start to Weaken at Menopause. Why Are We Waiting Until 65 to Look?

​The hot flashes get all the attention. Meanwhile, our bones can lose density for more than a decade before anyone thinks to check.

BY JULIA SAVACOOL

​Read this piece​

Yesterday's pop-up lunch in NYC? That was PROVOKEDplus.

So was the Book Club with Jane Green—and the next one lands in early November. More lunches are coming: Houston and DC, you're up. And next month we're trying something new: our first Off the Record session online, where I say the things I can't put in the newsletter.

Plus, Good Enough every Sunday, which members tell us is the best thing we make.

Come sit with us.

​JOIN PROVOKEDplus.

THE SHORT LIST

👄 Aging may be inevitable. Looking every year of it? Increasingly optional, at least for some women.

💄 What’s missing from the label may matter as much as what’s on it. New research takes a closer look at personal care products.

👖 A belt that looks remarkably like the one that comes in the orange box. I have both and can't tell the difference.