A weekly upload decrypting four codes that program our world: barcodes (consumerism), dress codes (fashion), coding (tech) and codifiers (cultural norms).

By Amy Francombe

Against reducing people to viral keywords

On humility, ambition, seeing the best in people and a week in NYC alive with Knicks mania.
Jun 17•Amy Francombe

The opposite of nostalgia is agency

Nostalgia asks us to look backwards for reassurance. Agency asks us to focus on what we can control today.
Jun 9•Amy Francombe

I want to present this lecture again

Who's going to help make that happen?
Jun 3•Amy Francombe

How to make a writing career work in a collapsing media landscape

I’m giving a lecture at the London College of Fashion on June 1st.
May 25•Amy Francombe

Extended cut: Tony Wang

More thoughts from the man who said: "Taste is when a brand resists market dynamics"
May 20•Amy Francombe

Taste is when a brand resists market dynamics

Alternative title: Taste is having the conviction to do something the algorithm wouldn't
May 14•Amy Francombe

I think I might be psychic

Why are so many influencers speaking at Harvard? Has Lena Dunham changed, or have we? Why a third of Gen Z believe they are psychic + more…
Apr 30•Amy Francombe

The case against snark

+ are affiliate links the new brand deal? Has hype given way to lore? Would HS Tikky Tokky do well on Love Island? Is vibe coding about to be the new…
Apr 4•Amy Francombe

Keep calm and gatekeep, gaslight, girlboss

The blessing and curse of being a journalist is getting to have deep, expansive conversations with fascinating people and then only having 2,000 words…
Mar 17•Amy Francombe

He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man

On biohacking ourselves to death
Mar 10•Amy Francombe

I am Narcissus and my Instagram feed is my pond

Why everyone is worried about being performative
Feb 5•Amy Francombe

Do I have good clavicles?

Plus “You met me at a very Chinese time of my life,” spoilt VICs and how to engage with fashion when the world has gone to shit.
Jan 28•Amy Francombe