Today, I’m going to make a generalization. But just a sec—it’s the kind that holds weight—something you could say to a friend or significant other, and they’d probably agree with it as an accepted reality.

It’s the positive correlation between taste and politics—an inconvenient truth that’s thrown in our faces while also staying right beneath our noses.

Right now, a person with egregiously bad politics is running the country. He also has historically bad taste. He’s known for both of these things—a classic example of an ego so big and an insecurity so all consuming that it negatively impacts everyone in his orbit. But the problem runs rampant. From T*ump to El*n to conservative people from your high school, there’s a taste gene that many never develop.

In place of personal style or a curated point of view, what exists is a regurgitation of Scrooge McDuck cartoon-rich taste, loud and garish and so, so cheap in appearance. That, or it’s a copy-paste of whatever lowest common denominator item is at Home Goods. I’m not saying this to be a bully, I say it because if you look around, the math…it’s mathing.

While taste is personal and individual (a beautiful thing!), the ability to consume art and culture and turn it into a personal aesthetic or point of view is a skill—art education happening in real time. The act of consuming art or media and (sub)consciously saying—that is what I want to feel/look/live like. To see a film or a painting that moves you to turn the vase on your nightstand just so, or to try a different style of earrings is one of life’s pleasures. Taking a moment to see the world differently because of what you were shown. What an incredible skill, what a gift. And it’s ours to choose if we take it.

The Row, Paris

Someone who’s more scholarly—a (chic) cultural anthropologist, perhaps—could break this down in academic detail, but what I’ve surmised is that people with bad politics are generally close-minded, and therefore closed off to styles and cultures outside of the ones in their immediate wheelhouse. They typically don’t value the arts in the same way and therefore aren’t well-read or informed on how style and design intertwine. They assign value through ego and power with a big, egregious show of force. And they hang out with other bad people with bad taste.

But in the name of good taste, here’s a palette cleanser:

The Courtnell Sofa, source unknown (found via Pinterest), source unknown (found via Pinterest), Villa Cavrois, Miu Miu Spring 2002

Internet trends like #MAGAMakeup have brought this idea to the collective conversation. The correlation is something I encourage you to notice more regularly (as if you could avoid it). While we can’t change other people, us elitists with good politics and good taste can do our part to bring the arts back to the forefront.

Instead of defunding grants and paying people $5,000 to procreate, let’s pay them to create art. And let’s explore it in digital forms, too. To put on my Marshall McLuhan hat for a moment, “The medium is the message” and the modern medium is social.

I consume a GRWM as much as the next gal rotting on her phone in bed, pillow between knees. But I’m hoping we start to see more imaginative ways of creating this content—bringing an artistic eye even to our social media and digital selves. There are plenty of creators out there doing it, even in simple ways, but I’d love to see more—and hear your thoughts on this topic in general.

Either way, let’s (please god) make this country—and our taste—great again.

What I’m wearing and why:

On the topic of taste comes the idea of pushing boundaries. While I don’t wear a lot of obvious color in my wardrobe, a girl can dream, and it’s fun to play sometimes to see if your color combinations are the good or bad kind of ugly. Here’s some quickie outfit shots I took post-call, pre-dog walk this week:

Flore Flore Steffi Tee ($105), Alex Mill Camden Cord Mini (on sale for $54—I’m also eyeing the Gimaguas Annamaria Skirt), Maximum Henry Wide Belt ($145), MNZ Olympia Wedge (on sale for $358)

Tuckernuck Cashmere Boyfriend Sweater in Navy ($228), DONNI Taffeta Simple Pant ($287), Jil Sander All Day Bag ($1150), Margiela Tabi Ballet Pumps (similar—$741)

Three beauty products I’m eyeing right now:

Reporting for duty with everyone’s favorite recession indicator this week, the lipstick index. Here’s three I don’t need but am eyeing:

Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick in Pip ($50), Dries Van Noten Refillable Lipstick in Sheer Balm ($78), Prada Hyper Matte Lipstick in Amarena ($50)

One organization to focus on this week:

Zohran Mamdani is running for mayor of NYC and good god do we need a change. He’s a democratic socialist focused on making the city better and more affordable. Learn more about him, and if you’re aligned, consider donating!

Thanks for being here,

Robin

P.S. If you purchase something from one of the links in this email, I may earn money. And that’s showbiz, kids.