Tribalism Sucks, Y'all

By mid-June, it was feeling like actual summer with highs into the mid 80s to low 90s, and I broke out some more of my new summer items.

Weekend Geometry--Sunday, 6/11/17

I don't usually bother photographing my weekend outfits, but I liked how the bold stripes and chevron patterns mixed here.

In the Floral Navy--Monday, 6/12/17

I really like this short-sleeved cardigan I bought from Loft.  It's a very traditional style with the round neck and buttons, which isn't necessarily my go-to favorite, but in this case, the simplicity makes it very versatile.  I also like the elbow-length sleeve, which makes it fit over a greater variety of short-sleeved shirts than many short-sleeved sweaters do.  The somewhat-more-interesting-than-usual neckline on the top is also helpful for days when it's warm enough (88 F and muggy) that you don't even want to mess with a necklace, let alone a scarf.

*Navy short-sleeved cardigan (Loft), $20.00

Outfit cost per wear (OCPW): $23.56

Patriotic Bohemian Floral for Flag Day Eve--Tuesday, 6/13/17

Another JCP skirt that I was able to buy in a Tall size, continuing to rock my world.  (And that sale price was awesome!)  There are so many color combinations that would work with this skirt, but for this very special holiday, clearly red and navy blue was the way to go.  And of course I had to match the red/gold flats with a red/gold White Rabbit pocket watch pendant, set to 4:55.

*Navy/pink/teal floral skirt (JCP), $7.69

OCPW: $12.69

It Starts With a Wild Ball Necklace--Wednesday, 6/14/17

I toned down the drama of the dark aqua/burgundy combination with a black cardigan, and let the exuberant colors of the necklace and floral ballet flats stand out.  This stretchy lace sleeveless top has already proven itself a workhorse in my summer work wardrobe. 

OCPW: $7.69

New New New--Thursday, 6/15/17

And sometimes you just want to throw on a collection of newly purchased items and be done with it.  That's easy to do when you use black and white as your base and find a Fitbit and necklace combo that matches your new pants.

*Aqua ankle pants (JCP), $17.49
*Black and white diamond top (Kohls), $8.40
*White short-sleeved cardigan (Loft), $20.00

OCPW: $49.73

Orange Sorbet or Peaches and Cream?--Friday, 6/16/17

Although I usually go with something denim-y on Friday, I thought this creamy confection of an outfit worked very well (and basically I didn't want to wait to try my new items).  I can't entirely decide what delectable summer treat I resembled, but this is one of my favorite outfits to wear in a while (against some stiff competition).  I am absolutely thrilled with this top!  Finding a white top that is opaque enough to wear on its own to work can be very challenging, but this one worked because it's a layer of lace on top of a layer of knit fabric.  And even though the back is only a single layer of knit fabric, it's thick enough (without being too warm) to be entirely appropriate.  I also liked that it was a bit loose and drapey without being complete humongous.

*Coral ankle pants (JCP), $17.49
*White lace top (JCP), $21.00

OCPW: $41.53

In other news...This report from The Economist on Trump's America is an absolute must-read.  (Note that this article is only the first in a series.  See the left side of the screen for links to the rest of the articles.)  This introductory article makes some distressing but important (and to social psychologists, not very surprising but still significant) points about how much political belief is about choosing a team and believing what your team believes and how little it's about picking a candidate/party that aligns with one's own values.  Here are some data points (quotes):

• 30% of the electorate does not have a good sense of where Republicans and Democrats stand on the most fundamental question about the role of the state.
• 16% of Clinton voters and 24% of Trump voters were not sure which party was more conservative.
• It is hard to think of two more different candidates, in temperament, style and policy, than Mitt Romney and Donald Trump, yet more than 90% of those who voted for Mr Romney in the presidential election in 2012 also voted for Mr Trump this time.
• Right after the election, and more than two months before Mr Trump took office, Republicans told pollsters that their personal finances were in much better shape than they had been the week before the ballot. Democrats said the opposite.

One thing I liked about this series is that it is not merely painting Trump voters as idiots who aren't paying attention, yadda yadda, while implying that Hilary voters are paragons of rationality.  There are not enough people pointing out that plenty of Team Democrat voters are just as clueless, biased, and driven almost entirely by social/identity concerns as the pro-Trump people.  It's easy to not-notice/forget this when the Democratic candidate also happens to be the only adult in the race, but it's not like America sorted itself into the pro-Trump Moron and pro-Hilary Brain groups here at all.  Imagine that Bernie Sanders was the Democratic candidate and eventual POTUS, and think of the high level of reflexive support from Democrats he would be getting for the really stupid shit he would be proposing/doing.