Working Girl’s Guide #46: The death of a crafting dynasty and mourning my morning matcha

Grieving the loss of DIY paradise, threats to your morning matcha (can’t a girl catch a break?!), and renting is the new buying—and arguably so much better. Let’s get into it.

H&M has graduated from making clothing dupes to… making people dupes

Wish I was making this up! H&M has been working with modeling agencies to create digital versions of models that are literally indistinguishable from their real-life counterparts, and they’re going to be using them in their online marketing. It is consensual—models opt in and own their usage/likeness—but still very creepy? Also means they won’t need to pay makeup artists and other technical/set workers, since, you know, there wouldn’t be any makeup or a set. New York is introducing a bill that will protect models’ rights to their digital clones.

Farewell to Joann and a rough day for my DIY-Girlies

Looking for an excuse to get into knitting/felting/sewing/etc.? Last chance to stock up on cheap supplies: Joann Fabrics is closing all 800 locations and laying off 19,000 workers—and offloading supplies for next to nothing. Why’s the store on its way out? Well, Joann lost 99% of its value between 2021 and 2024, which is definitely partially due to the state of the economy and plummeting consumer confidence. But the real culprit might be a 2011 buyout by private equity firm Leonard Green, a $1.6 billion deal that left the craft store saddled with debt. And obviously the vast majority of people aren’t sewing their clothes out of necessity anymore, so there’s just not the demand that existed when the company started. Even the tradwives buy their clothes online!

FYI there is a matcha shortage coming

First eggs, now this? I feel like mornings have been canceled? Thanks to a mix of bad weather, rising production costs, and increased global demand (hi, feed full of aesthetic morning matcha videos), we’re running out of matcha, and that’s driving prices up. If you’ve got a serious matcha habit, it might be time to stock up, because the shortage is expected to last at least through the Spring.

Had the best time celebrating my birthday with the fam—and gasp actually invited them to my apartment like a real adult! Of course, my mom showed up with party hats because in her mind, I’m still 12, but I was secretly very pleased. We kicked things off with a single margarita (keeping it classy as a newly minted 28-year-old), then hit up a cute pizza spot by my place. My parents got me a waffle maker, which we put to good use Saturday morning. Safe to say, 28 is off to a great start! BRING IT ON!

Soo these dresses all slay and also they were also each rented. As obsessed as I am with them, I am also newly sharing a closet with a man, which means I do NOT have endless storage space, and am living for the fact that I get to wear ‘em and return ‘em. Plus, now that I’m 28, I have a wedding every single weekend, and buying something for each is… absolutely not in the cards. Loving each of these almost as much as I love the fact that my boyfriend made the bed so nicely this morning!

Okay, we all know the ultimate lazy girl move is sneaking into your roommate’s closet and "borrowing" her clothes, but once she catches on, you’re gonna need a backup plan. Lucky for you, I’ve got just the thing. Drumroll, please… Rent the Runway! You saw my adorable wedding guest dresses, but let’s talk about work clothes for my office girlies, shall we?

Maybe you're curious about the "vest trend" your work bestie swears by but not ready to commit. Or maybe you're about to present at that big client meeting but don’t need to keep a blazer dress collecting dust in your closet afterward. OR maybe you just love clothes and want to keep your wardrobe fresh (I see you, fellow shopping addict). Whatever your intentions, Rent the Runway is here for you. Choose 5+ designer pieces a month, and they’ll be at your door in 2-3 business days. And no, I’m not leaving you hanging without a discount: Use my code RTRCORPNAT during the month of April for 75% off your first month! Happy shopping lazy girls!

HR’s calling, and tbh it’s about time. This week, Corp and I sit down with Mariana Garavaglia, Chief People Officer at DoorDash, to learn about her journey leading teams at Amazon, Peloton, and now DoorDash! We get into her top interview tips, the golden rule for staying on HR’s good side, and she shares answers to your burning questions about the job hunt and salary negotiations. She also shares her go-to DoorDash order and whether “work wife” is a term you can actually use at work. Listen here.

Thanks for reading!