Working Girl’s Guide #47: Wedding season, tariffs, and flared jeans

Bye to cheap stuff on Temu and hey to another 75 days (at least) with TikTok. Let’s get into it.

Temu will be subjected to tariffs, too

If your Hinge date has said the word “tariffs” at least three times this week, here’s something you can toss into the chat: You might be familiar with the de minimis exemption, which has historically allowed goods worth $800 or less to enter the US without any associated tariffs, as long as those goods are sent right to the consumer. So that Temu order of 13 tote bags for your bestie’s bachelorette? Tariff-free. But things are a-changin: even relatively cheap packages will be subject to tariffs of 30% of their value, or $25 per item. This means higher prices and slower arrival for goods manufactured in China.

TikTok’s sell-by date was pushed forward again

TikTok was supposed to be sold by April 5, or it would be banned in the US. Obviously, we’re still here — that’s because the White House pushed the ban out another 75 days. So you’re saying I can keep scrolling endlessly every night rotting my brain? YAY. Potential buyers include Oracle, Amazon, MrBeast, and Microsoft, among others; hypothetically, it will be banned again if it’s not purchased by someone in the United States by then, but it kinda seems like no one’s doing a great job of getting rid of it? Not mad, tbh.

Big money for college athletes is coming (maybe)

If you were forced by your coworkers to make a March Madness bracket against your will, you can now keep the convo rolling in the conference room with this: the NCAA is reportedly nearing a $4 billion settlement that would end decades of legal drama over unpaid labor. Basically, schools would be allowed to pay athletes directly, setting aside ~$20 million per year each for compensation. It’s a huge shift that could totally reshape college sports, and would impact players who weren’t paid in the past (they could get backpay). I think I made $18/hour at my college summer internship…sigh.

Another wedding, of course — late twenties are taxing (but extremely fun). Thanks to all the girlies who weighed in on my dress debacle via Instagram, your input was taken into great consideration! BTW, new data from Bankrate says people spend, on average, $611 each to attend weddings, which is why I’m becoming a big-time renter (this one was from Rent the Runway). Meanwhile, bae gets to wear the same suit every time and still looks so handsome? WTF?

Are flare pants still in? Have heard rumors that skinnies are coming back, and I will personally be hard-core NOT partaking in that trend (famous last words…). Anyway, here’s how I styled flare jeans for dinner with friends. The cropped bubble sleeve bomber has been my recent go-to — it’s a little pricey, but I am feeling great about my cost per wear on this puppy. A moment for the sconces in the back, which I personally hung just days after move-in!

It’s Spring cleaning season (or has been for a while? IDK). If your inbox has become a digital landfill, try this: set a 10-minute timer, sort by sender, and unsubscribe from 10 things you never open. That’s it. No mass purge, which can feel way too overwhelming and time-consuming.

Pro tip: Create a filter that sends newsletters to a “read later” folder so your inbox stays clean but your inner hoarder still gets to peek at sales, substack gossip, etc. when the moment’s right.

This week, we’re talking Hollywood secrets with Katie O’Brien, the Showrunner of Tubi’s “The Z-Suite”! Ross and I ask Katie way too many questions about her fascinating career (she started as an improv actor, then created a web series, which she then transformed into her first full-fledged TV show). Katie gave us a crash course on various filmmaking roles, a behind-the-scenes look at creating and showrunning “The Z-Suite,” and shared the secrets to pitching a TV show, navigating the sometimes-horrific audition process, and the economics of TV show production. Plus, we learn about the roles Ross and I were born to play — she nailed it. Listen here.

Thanks for reading!