Casual Viewing - Vol. 3
Virginia, Molly & Stella are all back. Looking good, not necessarily being good🍿
Hi! and huge thanks to everyone who’s reached out or commented about Casual Viewing. The idea for shoppable fiction probably traces back to me reading ’ Bergdorf Blondes in my more-shabby-than-chic apartment in 2004. I remember wanting the exact lipstick or perfume the characters wore—and then wondering if I was weird.
Turns out, if I was weird, so is the entire $30 billion influencer economy. Because as Net-a-Porter proved nearly 25 years ago, content and commerce are a bustling intersection. But even with all the influencer content in the world, I still found myself craving something a little more...imagined. So I created Casual Viewing to sit at the corner of content, commerce, and fiction; a stylish detour I’ve delighted in taking. Maybe you will too.
When we last saw our heroines (or are they villains?), they were prepping for a tiresome-sounding end-of-school party Rebecca had insisted on hosting. Her sister Virginia was running late, and her mysterious new neighbor Stella was rethinking her attendance entirely. Catch up on Volume 1 and Volume 2.
A few months have passed. It’s now what Rebecca and Virginia’s mother calls deep summer, that sticky, suspended stretch between July 5th and Labor Day when anything could happen… but rarely ever does.
Except…
VIRGINIA
Virginia gave a casual wave and a breezy “Hey, y’all!” to a table of former high school and sorority girls, just as every eye zeroed in on her left hand. Dressed in a curve-hugging denim mini, she stood out among the tasteful, nap-dressed, yacht club crowd.
“New money and old diamonds,” someone murmured through a tight smile.
“Virginia!!” a warmer voice broke the freeze. Molly grabbed her by the arm, pulling her toward the bar. “Let’s get spritzes!”
Molly clocked everything: the tiny The Row bag, the gladiator sandals. “You got them! They’re so good!” She leaned in to breathe in Virginia’s scent—something smoky and expensive—and lifted her hand for inspection.
“This isn’t his great-grandmother’s,” she said, wide-eyed.
“Nope. That one’s in the safe. This one’s from Croghan’s. He gave me Mimi’s on Friday, this one Saturday. Sunday we just watched TV,” Virginia said, eyebrow arched.
Molly blinked. “I just saw a whole thing on about pear-cut diamonds taking over her feed. Wait—are y’all still friends with Emily?”
“Oh, barely. We haven’t been to New York since last spring.” Virginia sipped her drink.
“Is James here? Can we get dinner tomorrow? Or even just drinks?”
“You’re sweet. He’s still in Argentina—client stuff. And I have dinner with Rebecca. Shooting family photos for them or I’d totally bail.”
Molly gestured to Virginia’s nearly empty spritz. “Another?”
But Virginia’s phone lit up with an unknown Texas number. “Next time,” she said, kissing Molly’s cheek without glancing at the tab. She fished in her tote for her valet ticket and answered the call with a silky “Hiiiiii.”
MOLLY
“I need you to hear this, Molly. They’re drug dealers. Virginia and James sell drugs. That’s their job.” Coco squares her shoulders, her voice low and serious.
“That is so NOT true,” Molly says, patting on pale pink lip color while getting ready for her date with Alex, her professor-slash-bartender boyfriend of six weeks. “Virginia teaches photography in Mexico. And James works in finance. He’s an investor.”
Coco snorts. “Virginia does not have a job. No one makes real money leading year-long photo retreats in Tulum. And James hasn’t been with that VC firm in over a year. When I was in New York, I heard he didn’t leave—he was cut.”
Molly waves her off. “Well James isn’t even here. He’s with a client.”
“Where?”
“Chicago,” Molly says too brightly after a beat.
“Right,” Coco says flatly. “Chicago.”
She leans in. “Listen to me: Virginia and James sell drugs to billionaires and their nepo kids. This isn’t college anymore. They’re too old for this shit. You’re too old for this shit. Stay away from them.”
Molly doesn’t respond. She’s holding up a pair of sumptuous gold sandals against her gray maxi dress. Yes. Maybe. She tries on two more pairs of earrings, but settles on the giant Isabel Marants Coco hands her. Not bad, she thinks, spraying her hair and fluffing it with her fingers.
In her bag, her phone quietly tallies up more than 45 Signal notifications from James.
STELLA
Stella was looking forward to leaving the drama behind, at least for the weekend. She and Virginia had agreed on a plan: clean exit, plenty of cash, no one the wiser. James couldn’t know a thing; that was non-negotiable.
She hated missing the Fourth of July parties, but made do with a few sparklers from the balcony of her Punta del Este penthouse. Packed the striped shorts anyway.
Her job now was to stay invisible, and she was happy to oblige.
She dealt the cash into tidy stacks across the bed, tucking two grand into her leather bag and the rest into her jewelry box. She and Jack had plans to do absolutely nothing: pool, novels, tacos and margaritas at the bar if it all went smoothly. Her suitcase held little besides swimsuits and soft layers.
Virginia had given her a parting gift—a delicate shell barrette. She held it to either side of her face in the mirror, unsure where it belonged.
That afternoon, in the spa’s dim mirror, Stella admired the sharp edge of her tan lines. Still, a chill passed through her. Maybe it was nothing. But— was someone watching her? Or had she perhaps trusted the wrong person?
She gave her curls a shake, as if to throw off the mood, and changed into a fun, fish-print mini dress.
As she walked out towards the bar, she noticed the seat next to Jack was occupied by a woman. Older. Familiar.
Stella froze, but only for a second.
Then she turned on her heel and ran.
Casual Viewing will return in August.1
Retinol-rich…foods that are good for your skin.
This daily color game looks fun.
I’m doing a no-buy July, but eyeing these hard for August 1.
Speaking of which, ’s interview with founder Alyssa Wasko Stein is wonderful and made me an even bigger Donni fan.
Wimbledon looks (gah, Cate Blanchett!)
I mostly abstain from pickles, but some of these do look good. The wings, not the cupcakes, to be clear.
Does anyone else in their mid-forties feel like the supplement regimen is getting out of hand? There’s the multi, the probiotic, the creatine, the fish oil, the magnesium, the hormone stuff and the cholesterol stuff. And then you have to re-order all of it?!?
Next on my To Be Read list: new TJR and Hello Beautiful. Tell me if you’ve read, please!
Thanks so much for being here and reading! It really means a lot to me. I’ll be taking next week off, and back on July 19. If you enjoyed Casual Viewing, send it to your friends.
Xx
Jen
I am truly in awe of your writing you MUST write a novel. Non negotiable. I want to know everything there is about these 3 - you’ve created such a fun universe!!
STOP IT!! Molly subscribes to me?! I am FLATTERED!! Molly, call me, I want to borrow your shoes!!
Jen, you know I love this series and this did not disappoint. I want to go back and reread the other “episodes.” Thank you for the best Saturday morning entertainment.