Marie Claire Spring 2021

express yourself

I started writing this letter—for our spring fashion issue, which is centered on the theme of voices—on January 6, a day that began with Georgians sending the first Black and first Jewish people to the Senate from their state. The historic day, which should have been one of celebration, quickly changed to one of horror as a mob, which perverted the First Amendment’s protection of free expression, stormed and desecrated the Capitol. The day finally ended with Congress certifying the votes of the American people in choosing our new president and first female vice president, and January 6 serves to remind us of the power of our voices and the responsibility we have to use them for positive progress. The pages of this issue are all about exploring and celebrating voices…

spring reading cheat sheet

For fans of: The 2018 film On the Basis of Sex; Gloria Steinem’s My Life on the Road; Malala Yousafzai’s I Am Malala Read: JUSTICE, JUSTICE THOU SHALT PURSUE: A LIFE’S WORK FIGHTING FOR A MORE PERFECT UNION By Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Amanda L. Tyler (March 16, University of California Press) Honor the Notorious RBG’s sweeping legacy with a collection of the justice’s most notable speeches, briefs, and opinions paired with never-before-published personal insights from Ginsburg about her lifelong efforts to achieve gender parity. For fans of: HBO’s Westworld; Netflix’s Black Mirror; Taylor Swift’s song “No Body, No Crime” Read: THE ECHO WIFE By Sarah Gailey (February 16, Tor Books) What happens when An Affair to Remember and genetic cloning collide? A mind-bending psychological page-turner that examines toxic relationships, loneliness, and female ambition. For fans of: Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing; Barbara Kingsolver’s Small…

a star is born

“How are you doing?” Taylour Paige asks. “How are you really doing?” Her warmth is undeniable, almost unsettling at first, but it quickly becomes clear it’s just the actress’s nature to be genuine and curious. Perhaps it’s the Libra in her. Knowing Paige’s sign is almost like a celestial key to unlocking her entire persona. She describes her life in dualities and balances, fitting for a sign represented by scales. (“I’m so optimistic and such a pessimist.…Without darkness, you don’t see light.”) And she often slips into the type of cerebral and soulful statements that air signs are recognized for. (“I’m kind of always thinking about how the past, present, and future are not linear.”) While it might seem that Paige is like any other millennial addicted to Co-Star (the uber-popular app that…

the world according to billie

In her single “Therefore I Am,” Billie Eilish hauntingly taunts, “Don’t talk’bout me like how you might know how I feel.” And she’s right. Despite currently being one of the most recognizable people in the world—thanks in part to her signature highlighter-green hair—and one of the most accoladed in recent music history (at the 2020 Grammys, Eilish became the first artist since 1981 to take home trophies in all four of the major categories), she’s intensely guarded. Whether it’s just part of her particularly alluring brand of mystique or simply a way to protect herself (her rise to fame began at age 13), Eilish has remained largely an enigma—a relatable, soulful, talented enigma. But on February 26, the 19-year-old is finally lifting the veil with an Apple TV+ documentary, Billie…

for your consideration

1 French Exit (February 12, in theaters) Think Emily in Paris, but trade the clichés and croissants for Michelle Pfeiffer’s tantalizing brand of je ne sais quoi and side-eye. The film, based on Patrick deWitt’s novel about a widowed socialite and her son (Lucas Hedges) who escape to France after burning through their money, evokes shades of Wes Anderson’s campy humor. Grab a martini and settle in. 2 Minari (February 12, in theaters) Set in the Ozarks, Lee Isaac Chung’s film—based on his own childhood experiences—is a tender and vivid representation of the American dream through the eyes of a Korean American family working to build a life on a farm. The story sings in its quiet depiction of immigrant otherness and resonates universally in its messages about love and sacrifice. 3 Moxie (March 3, Netflix) Amy Poehler…

lana condor

Condor has quickly become Gen Z’s veritable Meg Ryan: a lovable, relatable rom-com darling. Before the actress closes the chapter on high school relationships in the delightful third and final installment of the To All the Boys series, Always and Forever, she shares with us her favorite things to watch, read, and listen to. The book I could read over and over again is all of Ruth Ware’s novels. I love thrillers and murder mysteries. The next book on my list is Leave the World Behind, by Rumaan Alam. If I had a podcast, it would be about relationships in your 20s. Or cooking. I have a passion for it, but I’m definitely an amateur chef, so it would be fun to do something about my wins and epic fails in the kitchen. The…