Q: Patterned turtlenecks like your Ulla from last year. All price points.
A: On the pricier side, love the current season options from Ulla, Cara Cara, and La Double J. On the less expensive side, Cara Cara has a few prints from past seasons in their sale section (see here!), this Cecilia Pettersen is fun, into this wintry pattern from Peruvian Connection, and I love this Land’s End in the “Ivory Encircle Geo” pattern specifically, this Loft, and plaid J. Crew. Finally, I know nothing about this brand, but found it in my research and thought the patterns were cool/artsy/unusual.
Q: An unusual tree-topper.
A: How gorgeous is this Scandi dream? Also love these ones from Elizabeth Harbour.
Q: A really splurgey baby gift for my sister. She has it all, and I want to get her something really fun and for her.
A: This is so incredibly sweet. Do an Artipoppe carrier! They are the zeitgeist, cool-mom accessory but crazy pricey.
Q: Cute (updated) ankle booties.
A: Splurge: Khaite Dallas boots or these Alexandre Birmans (heel shape is interesting and this brand makes such incredible quality shoes). More reasonable: I love the shape and color options of these Madewell kitten heels. The embellished ones are SO interesting and different. Also, love a lugsole chelsea boot if you’ve not given that style a try — they are more wearable than you think! Pair with jeans, midi/maxi dresses, cords! (Look for less with these.)
Q: Given the fact that I’m 72, I probably can’t wear a bare, bow backed LBD (Ed. note: Magpie was referencing this dress I’d linked in a post). I’m 5’6, 127 pounds and would love a LBD that might be more age appropriate. Do you have any ideas.(price point under $450.00).
A. Hi! Shoshanna has some really chic options that feel modern but offer more coverage. Not sure how dressy you’re thinking, but I love this mixed-media one. If you’re comfortable with showing shoulder, this ALC is so elegant. And this under-$200 style would work for countless occasions. Love the way it’s not fitted but figure-skimming, and the details (cuff, puffed sleeve) feel contemporary.
Q: Would love your thoughts on heeled shoes for date night and church – not too tall and preferably not boots. I find that I have plenty in spring/summer but not much during fall/winter. Thank you!
A: A great pair of boots/booties! Shared some chic bootie options above, but for higher-shaft options, love these Schutzes, these J. Crews, these Stauds, and these LRs. So good with jeans tucked in, or layered beneath patterned fall dresses. Another tack: a pair of Manolo Maysales (look for much, much less with these).
Q: Hi Jen, can you recommend comfy dark black jeans straight leg please, with no distressing at all. Thanks so much!
A: I don’t own this exact pair, but I’d put money on these Gaps being a big winner. So many of my favorite jeans are from Gap — comfortable thanks to Lycra, nearly always TTS.
Q: NYC winter workwear.
A: A great coat and great (warm, durable) boots to begin with. Avoid light colors and suede in both categories, as I presume you spend a lot of time walking / on Subway and we all know the strange street detritus interactions borne of that experience. I would do a coat like this (texture and color are interesting — a bit more eye-popping than standard black) and boots like these or these (look for less with these), but of course depends on dress code in office — I’m imagining you can get away with more casual wear versus suits. I’d buy a few pairs of black pants in different shapes — these, these, these (even these if you have some longline sweaters/cardigans/blazers to throw on top) to mix and match with little cropped sweaters/blazers (like this, this, this, this) beneath turtlenecks (have heard really good things about these Commando bodysuit turtlenecks and they’d be clutch for work so you’re not constantly readjusting/retucking) or over striped button downs. More chic workwear ideas for cooler weather here.
Q: Advent calendar to use year after year, preferably without the little trinkets/candy.
A: My Mom always re-used a simple cardstock one. She didn’t believe we needed candy/gifts every morning of Advent, and we still fought over who got to open the little flap each day. This Etsy shop has some beautiful options. Bonus: you can keep it almost anywhere (on a mantle, kitchen counter, etc) and it packs up nice and flat for next season. I also thought this wood one was sweet and different.
Q: Fair isle sweaters but more funky/whimsical, not the usual brown/green.
A: I got you! I love this, this (under $50!), this, this, and this!
Q: Shoes to wear with cropped, wide-leg cords — kind of ankle length.
A: I love this silhouette paired with a ballet flat (love this and this for this season) or a slightly chunky loafer (love this and this).
Q: Midweight fabric lined raincoat with a hood, extended sizing.
A: This one in black or olive is sleek and ticks all the boxes. Also like the look of this one but don’t think it’s lined.
Q: Pants to transition pink/green/oat Alice Walk mock sweaters to fall/winter.
A: Such a dreamy lineup of knits! I’d pair with ecru jeans like these or these and flats that clearly communicate the season but that go with the color palette, e.g., these sherpa ones or these croc ones. I find trying to pair lighter/springier colors with darker pants looks a little discombobulated sometimes, so would just embrace the lighter palette but look for winter-appropriate details. The exception is the oat colored mockneck — that you can wear with any pairs of jeans!
Q: Really dramatic party pants.
A: You have to go with these tinsel ones.
Q: Casual date night tops.
A: Doen’s Jane blouse! My sister owns this in several colors/patterns and I always think she looks sexy but casual — it’s the kind of thing you imagine someone wearing while in great vintage Levis, barefoot, pouring a glass of wine, listening to Miles & Coltrane. (And this under-$50 patterned blouse has a similar vibe.) Sezane is another good place to start. They have lots of saucy-but-not-too-too pieces, like this blouse, or this one. (I’m also maybe the wrong person to ask about ‘casual’ — I’d wear either of these on a daily basis.) Also consistently drawn to what SEA puts out in this category (have this, now on sale! — you can see me in it here — and this). Lots of fun patterns/shapes that feel fashion-conscious but aren’t too dressy. Last but not least, these bodysuits from Jacquemus! Is it hot in here!?
Q: An attractive way to have a printer in my home office. Such an eyesore.
A: Keep it in a closet!! This has long been our solution. If that’s not possible owing to electricity / space, there are lots of storage cabinets with cut-outs for cords in the back — love the ones from Room and Board. If you don’t like the idea of having to open/close a door each time you use the printer, this one is petite but would work well and at least keep the printer sort of hidden or at least streamlined.
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