Eliza Starting

Last month, I started writing a column for my school newspaper where I spotlight teenagers who use their passion to pursue awesome things and make change in the world. For my first column, I got the chance to interview Eliza Rubin of the Eliza Starting podcast that I've mentioned before. She's the sweetest and the coolest, and I was so lucky to get to chat with her! She's going to continue to do awesome things.

Eliza Rubin is the force behind “Eliza Starting at 16,” a weekly podcast in which she “explains what’s going on in the big, wild world of teenagers these days.” She’s also a high school senior living in New York City.

Rubin publishes 10-15 minute episodes on iTunes each Sunday. She uses this time to candidly discuss her life and interests, the way she navigates the city and what’s going on with her generation. She presents her ideas in an articulate and insightful way that illuminates the matters.

One of Rubin’s frequent topics is the complexity of being a teenager today; she attempts to explain the things that often go unnoticed or misinterpreted by other generations. This can range from social media to selfies to the college application process to celebrities.

Lately it’s been comforting to hear Rubin’s thoughts on the college application process and how that differs at her school. Even though she attends a private high school on the Upper East Side and her life is considerably different than mine, we still face many of the same daily issues. It’s a gentle reminder about the universality of parts of the high school experience.

Gretchen Rubin, the author of The Happiness Project and Rubin’s mother, has her own podcast called “Happier with Gretchen Rubin.” Rubin said she was inspired to start “Eliza Starting at 16” after she was featured on a few of her mom’s episodes and said she loved how easily talking came to her once she was in front of the microphone. As suggested by the title, she posted her first episode when she was 16; Rubin is now 17.

“It’s easier than blogging because you’re able to say what you feel, and it doesn’t feel forced,” Rubin said.

Rubin said all one needs to start a podcast is a microphone and ideas to share. As the market for podcasts grows, there’s a chance for everybody to get out there, and Rubin is encouraging of everybody who wants to give it a try.

much love,

claire

outfitsandobservations@gmail.com

right now

This summer sped by, and I was at a 6 week program without computers so I didn't make any blog progress, but I'm full of ideas now. I'm planning on committing to the changes I announced in my last post and only posting content that feels completely authentic. Additionally, I'm not using @outfitsandobservations on Instagram anymore, so if you want blog updates or to see what's going on in my life, follow @coffee.claire !

I want to put a spotlight on some of the little things I'm loving at the moment. Here are some items that make my world seem more special. I hope you enjoy them and comment some of your favorites. Also, no books on here because I'm planning a separate, books-only post for soon!

Eliza Starting
This podcast is done by a 17 year old girl named Eliza who lives on the Upper East Side. She's the cutest and talks about all of the things she loves, her favorite parts of the city, and what it's like to be a teenager today-- how it's more complicated than older generations give us credit for-- in ten minute weekly episodes. She's extremely articulate and smart without seeming pretentious. It's cool to listen to her talk about things I can directly relate to, like the college process and how much she loves BORNS.

Gossip Girl
Not to be on an Upper East Side streak, but this is another one of my loves lately. I watched it all freshman year and was completely obsessed, and now I'm rewatching it and loving it all the same. I'm not typically a dramatic tv girl, but all of the characters and the craziness they create are impossible to look away from. I'm currently on season 5 and fully immersed in the lives of Serena and Blair.

Depression Cherry
Beach House's 2015 album has been getting me lately. Listening to it feels like some combination of a dream and a low budget movie. It's the perfect album to write or read or drive to, and it flows together perfectly.

Tusk
It's my favorite Fleetwood Mac album and has been on my record player consistently for the past year. "Storms" is one of the most beautiful and emotionally strong and dear-to-my-heart songs of all time. Tusk is potentially the purest example of the band's stunningly crafted lyrics. It also houses "Sara," "What Makes You Think You're The One," "Angel," and all the rest. Listen to it all the way through!

Tarte's Liquid Eyeliner
I've been using the "lights, camera, lashes" precision longwear liquid eyeliner, and I'm so impressed by it. The felt tip pen allows for such a smooth line, and it stays the entire day. My favorite makeup is winged liner, so this has been a huge help with that.

21c's Pop Stars Exhibit
When I visited 21c in early June I was completely unprepared for this exhibit. There's a piece that took Britney's "Baby One More Time" and gave light to how elegant, how emotional, how raw those lyrics are. There's focus on the beauty of a pop song and how it can be a catalyst to fame. There's a mirror with Paris Hilton carved/ marked into it via thousands of words said and written about her by friends, tabloids, herself. There's an image of Lady Gaga as a Renaissance-esque beauty. The whole collection is fabulous, and I'm not sure how much longer it will be on display.

much love,

claire

outfitsandobservations@gmail.com