I have ordered three of these Lego sets in the past two weeks for six year old boys! I love to tailor the gifts I buy for the people in my life, but sometimes you really need some solid standbys on hand when you’re in the thick of the birthday circuit. Today, I thought I’d share a bunch of my favorite “go-to gifts” for little children. For ages 6-8, I nearly always buy Lego, PicassoTiles (the marble run set is awesome), Playmobil, or Revell build kits. You simply cannot go wrong with those brands; I can’t think of a child I know who wouldn’t love any of those items, boy or girl!
Above, you can see one of my recent gifts for a little boy — I wanted to mention how much I love Target for gift wrap for young children! This is their Spritz dino wrap. It is not a great quality paper (it is thin / rips easily), but the pattern is adorable. I also have their car wrap and shark wrap for birthdays for little ones! I am also never without a roll of Rifle’s Party Animals gift wrap — the quality is amazing (very thick), and it is precious. I like to wrap with a big 2″ white satin ribbon. (PSA: Rifle usually runs a promotion towards the holidays and I try to stock up then.) I always tuck a little gift enclosure card from Erin Wallace in — she has the best designs and quality for the price.
For younger children, my favorite gifts below. Nearly all of these are around $50 or less — most under $30. I’ve arranged these loosely in ascending order of age appropriateness — items 1-9 are great for under 1.5 in particular (perfect first birthday gifts). We own every last one of these items and I could write a taxingly long praise review for each, but will try to keep it simple and just let you know — these are all well-loved in our home, and I take joy in giving them to other children in our lives.
01. REED & BARTON RACECAR PIGGY BANK — A GREAT GIFT FOR A LITTLE ONE UNDER A YEAR OF AGE; GREAT DECOR AND YOU CAN “SEED” THE FUND WITH A $10 BILL INSIDE
For something unusual and well-made for the child who has everything, try anything by the French brand Vilac. We have a few of their beautiful wooden games, including this cat balancing game, and they are just incredible!
Last week, I read a superb essay titled “The Nora Ephron We Forget.” In it, author Rachel Syme makes the acute observation that Ephron’s films “suggest that language is at the heart of romance.” Reading those words was like sliding my foot into a perfect-fitting shoe. I apprehended, immediately, how true it was, and how much it explains my obsession with Ephron’s script-writing, especially in “Sleepless in Seattle,” “You’ve Got Mail,” and “When Harry Met Sally.” Somehow, I had never contemplated their inherent literariness: the epistolarity, the centricity of text and verbal exchange, that runs through them all. In “Sleepless in Seattle,” Meg Ryan’s character is a writer by trade, and an exchange of letters between herself and Tom Hanks’ character’s son leads to their romantic entanglement. In “You’ve Got Mail,” two strangers (who turn out to not be strangers) fall in love via anonymous email exchange, quite literally falling in love in and through language. Both of them own book stores and so there are persistent atmospheric motifs of text, reading, and interpretation. Of “When Harry Met Sally,” perhaps the least “ostensibly” literary, Syme writes: “Throughout the movie, [Sally is] exacting in her word choices, even when ordering pie at a restaurant. (“I’d like the pie heated, and I don’t want the ice cream on the top, I want it on the side, and I’d like strawberry instead of vanilla if you have it. If not, then no ice cream, just whipped cream but only if it’s real. If it’s out of a can, then nothing.”) Romance, here, is a man telling a woman that he likes her for, and not in spite of, her exhaustive language. “I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich,” Harry says in the film’s climactic speech.”
The summer Mr. Magpie and I were first dating, he went on a wild month-long excursion through South America with a buddy of his. We weren’t able to talk much while he traveled, as this was pre-cell-phone-and-ubiquitous-wi-fi, but he called one night while I was cooking dinner at my parents’ home, likely spending a small fortune in the process. I remember cradling the phone against my shoulder as I stirred tomato sauce on the stove, and I was keenly aware of my mother’s eavesdropping across the counter. I was young – just-twenty – and I performed a polite and chaste conversation. At the end, Mr. Magpie said, “OK, baby. I love you.” I managed to get “I love you, too,” out and then spun back around to the stove, my cheeks burning.
My mother didn’t say anything for awhile – I could sense she was working at the cutting board – and I relaxed, assuming the moment and its uncomfortably public display of affection had passed us by.
Then, a good two minutes later –
“He calls you baby?”
Ephron is a genius and Syme is, well, a cipher. The essay was a revelation, as I now understand exactly why I find those films so powerfully, irresistibly romantic: because they hinge on the intimacy of a well-turned exchange. I mean – is there anything more seductive than a meaningful volley? Or a shared subtext? Or a private joke? Or the feeling of being truly listened to? Or the things we whisper to one another when no one else is listening?
Mr. Magpie’s voice in my ear that night all those years ago sprang to the surface as I reflected on this truth, as though blood drawn from a finger prick. There was something about my mother listening in, annotating our conversation, that made me newly or more deeply aware of our relationship status. I suppose I hadn’t thought it idiosyncratic, or juicy, or particularly interesting that he called me “baby” but suddenly I saw myself in a new light. I was his pet name; he was mine. What we said to one another was ours alone. I found this suddenly, thrillingly romantic.
+I am in love with this Doen top. So fun with jeans for fall.
+I know it’s early, but Target has released some of its tree collars for the holidays, and they always sell out! And! This is the tree topper we’ve used the last few years and it also sells out yearly. It is super lightweight (papier mache) so easy to put on the top without tilting!
+How FUN is the jewelry from new-to-me label Timeless Pearly? Like an affordable Brent Neale!
+Will for sure be ordering these $20 Target loafers for micro again this year. They are SO good for the price — the top velcros closed, so very easy to get on/off.
+I’ve been getting a lot of work attire requests — these pants are perfect, especially in the burgundy (for something a little different) and I love the way they’re styled on the site with a chunky loafer.
+Loving the rich red of this La Ligne dress. Holiday parties, here we come?
+Mini uggs, in tons of colors, fully stocked! While we’re talking cooler-weather footwear, these waterproof lugsole boots were popular last year and I love the colors they came out in this year.
+OPT is really nailing the designer-looks-for-less with their fall collection. I know a lot of you snagged this for Thanksgiving or family photos, but also love this and this.
It’s that great time of year: Shopbop is offering 15% off a $200+ purchase, 20% off a $500+ purchase, and 25% off an $800+ purchase with promo code STYLE. If you are a Shopbop “insider” (e.g. have an account), you have early access as of today, but if not — the promotion is open to the public starting tomorrow! Just in time for purchasing those items you’ve been eyeing for your fall wardrobe, like everyone’s favorite Citizens jeans!
I was majorly inspired by the photo above, featuring some on-trend hot pink finds, including this SIKA maxi dress and this Azeeza beauty, both part of the sale event and show stopping for upcoming events.
+J CREW CORDS. These came and exceeded expectations. I love them. I ordered them in my true size (25), but took the petite for length reasons. I am still going to have to have them hemmed a bit because I want them to hit just at ankle and these are still a tiny bit long. I love the mocha color and surprised myself for going tone-on-tone with a camel cashmere crewneck the first day D.C. temps went below 60 degrees. (Then I promptly broke out into a sweat when it turned noon, and nearly 80 degrees, and switched outfits.). I love the play of textures between the cashmere, the cord, the layered fair isle around the shoulders (mine is old Zara but you can get a similar one here), the croc loafers (mine are old Veronica Beard but you can get similar here and here).
+BOXY CROSSBODY. I fell in love with the crossbody as a general concept while living in New York City, when I led a pedestrian lifestyle and it was handy not to have to adjust a tote on my shoulder, especially while carrying grocery bags or pushing a stroller. It also made me feel more secure while riding the subway — it would have been difficult for a purse-snatcher to remove it from me! You can see my Marc Jacobs J-Link Twist bag in the photo above, which they’ve sadly discontinued — I love the shape, colorblocking, and “bungee” ties on the side. It also feels less “logo-ed” than a lot of that brand’s bags, which I like. You can still find it in a fab pink here or solid black here. I shared a few other boxy crossbody options in this post — if I didn’t have this Marc Jacobs, I’d be lining up for the APC Grace (for some reason a better price at Farfetch, but I know many Magpies have Shopbop loyalty!) or saving up for the Celine.
+PATTERNED TROUSERS. I bought the new pair from Hill House and am sorry they are sold out — but I am so crazy excited to wear them, for two reasons: first, the pattern! You can still get this perfect navy pattern in their Louisa dress. I am in love with it — a dream to layer with stripes, or contrasting colors, for fall. Second, I had been wanting to snag a pair of bold trousers for fall. I had been lusting after this pair from La Double J, and Hill House’s hit close to the mark. You can get similar ones here. My vision is pairing these with velvet/suede platforms, a cashmere crewneck, and a big sparkly headband (<<one of my absolute favorite $10 purchases last winter — SO fun). So chic for heading out to dinner on a crisp evening.
+FOLLAIN ULTRA-HYDRATING MASK. I have been obsessed with this mask the past few weeks. I slather it on after washing my face at night and sleep with it on. The texture is rich and soothing — it feels to me akin to wrapping myself in a big, fluffy robe, or burying myself beneath an enormous duvet — but it is ultra-gentle and non-greasy. I wake up to deeply hydrated skin, but there’s also something about the ritual of putting it on at night that appeals. It feels like I’m taking care of myself? Like I’m comforting my skin? I don’t know – there is something calming about it as the final step in my nighttime regimen.
+BRAVETART. This is hands-down the best baking cookbook I’ve ever used. The instructions are clear and thoughtfully-written, and she does an excellent job explaining why she recommends certain ingredients (e.g., flours), temperatures (she often asks for “eggs, right out of the fridge”), processes (e.g., “chop chocolate vs using chocolate chips”). But mainly, everything I have made from here has been absurdly delicious and has turned out perfectly. I would say this cookbook is for an intermediate baker. It is not alienatingly full of complicated undertakings, but it has a bit more precision and complexity than your average “cream the butter and add the dry ingredients” formulas. She will, for example, tell you to turn the baking sheets and lower the heat at certain points, and she has specific “tells” to look for (“watch for the edges to be brown but the inside not set”). I have to strongly recommend you try her snickerdoodle recipe. I made these last weekend and Mr. Magpie put away about six in one sitting.
+FEATHER-TRIM EVERYTHING. I am swooning over the La Double J top that matches the patterned pants I mentioned above. In a dream world, I would wear the two together, but maybe I will just spring for the top to pair with denim. Feather trim is majorly trending ATM and I am going to share an entire post on this soon, but in the meantime, you might consider this J. Crew button-down, which sold out last winter, and is the perfect way to get the look without going too over the top. Great with jeans or tucked into a skirt!
+GINGHAM TABLECLOTH + BROWN NAPKINS. I’m thinking ahead and absolutely lusting after Mrs. Alice’s gingham x brown napkins situation. Wow! I’d love to splurge and buy the entire scene, but will likely go for just the gingham tablecloth and pair with less-expensive napkins like these or these. I love the feather wreaths so much, though — do I need them? And could I DIY the velvet bows? Just SO chic.
I have not bought anything from the last few Hill House collections, but I loved the latest launch, especially their navy “posy print,” which feels perfect for pattern matching this fall. I love the idea of their new Louisa silhouette in the posy print paired with a striped cardigan! (See how they are layering patterns here for inspo, too.)One of my girlfriends was raving about the Louisa nap dress as the most flattering of their silhouettes thanks to the addition of those sleeves. IMO this is a fantastic everyday fall dress, easily paired with flats, sneakers, clogs, boots! I bought their Winston pants, which sold out within minutes (!) and am regretting not buying the matching blouse, which also sold out but is still available in other patterns. Hoping they release more patterned trousers like this in the future.
P.S. If you missed their popular Amira blouse from this launch (ideal for updated under-nap-dress layering), check out this similar $28 style!
This Week’s Most Popular: Early Fall Finds.
The most popular items on Magpie this week:
DECORATIVE CERAMIC VANITY TRAY IN A WHITE AND GREY MARBLED PRINT — I USE THIS TO KEEP MY SKINCARE CORRALLED ON MY SINK!
CLASSIC CHOCOLATE HERRINGBONE DOUBLE-BREASTED BLAZER WITH WIDE LAPEL AND GOLD STATEMENT BUTTONS…FALL CLOSET ESSENTIAL
SIMPLE WHITE CERAMIC TABLE LAMP ALONG WITH A CHIC WOVEN RATTAN LAMPSHADE — I PUT THESE IN OUR UPSTAIRS GUEST BEDROOM…THEY HAVE A CLEVER DIMMER SWITCH BUILT IN!
WESTERN STYLE SUEDE BOOTIES FROM SAM EDELMAN WITH CHIC KITTEN HEEL
ADORABLE ‘LOVE LETTER’ MINI CUSTOMIZABLE STATIONERY FOR LUNCH BOX NOTES FOR THE LITTLES
BRIGHT PINK BEAUTIFUL SQUARE NECK MIDI DRESS WITH BILLOWY PUFF SLEEVES AND A FLIRTY BACK CUT OUT FOR UNDER $30!
SUPER-SOFT CORDUROY OVERALLS WITH JERSEY LINING TO KEEP THE LITTLES COMFORTABLE FOR PLAYTIME
ORGANIZATION BOX WITH DIVIDERS TO EFFORTLESS STORE OFF-SEASON SHOES (IT IS ALWAYS SO SAD TO RETIRE SANDALS UNTIL THE NEXT YEAR)
Weekend Musings: The Magical Thinking Jar.
I absolutely adored a concept I came across via the Instagram account This Is Like Magic, which shares beautiful, thoughtful ways to “make someone’s day.” The idea runs like follows:
“Children say the funniest things, yet all too often, I find I forget them after a day or two, or sometimes just a few hours. I’ll start telling my husband.. “C said the funniest thing…” and then I can’t quite remember. Or I get it a little mixed up and it’s not nearly as funny as it was originally. So I started writing down the funnier moments of the day. I keep a jar in the kitchen, and when the kids say something particularly worthy of recording, I grab a scrap of paper (phone bill, envelope, chopstick holder.. whatever is lying around) and I quickly jot it down. Right when it happens. The idea originally came from Joan Didion, who wrote about doing something similar when her daughter was a young girl in The Year of Magical Thinking. So I call them the “Magical Thinking Jars”. We have four kids, and pretty quickly outgrew one jar. So now, ten years later, each child has their own. When I’m having a below average day, I reach in and pull out a quote.. and suddenly I’m laughing and remembering a moment I might have easily forgotten. The kids love the jars, too. I find them sometimes with their quotes all poured out, reading them to each other.”
I could cry at this concept. One thing Mr. Magpie and I have been trying to do is capture my children saying their favorite catch phrases and malapropisms and mispronunciations on camera. I was thinking the other day I need to start organizing these into a specific Apple Photo album or I’ll never be able to find them all. I came across the post above, though, and thought it was just an exquisite way to remember my children. I’ve just moved a notepad down to the kitchen in the hopes of capturing these moments as they happen.
Shopping Break.
+Daphne Wilde just marked down a ton of her dresses to around $115-$125! Now is a great time to buy a patterned dress for fall, or a solid one for year-round versatility!
+Love this entire look. Want the pants and matching hoodie. Perfect travel day / errand day / rainy day at home look!
+This new release from Parterre is so pretty and polished. I’d wear this to back to school night / teacher conferences / creative work meetings / lunches.
+Adore this suede bucket bag from J. Crew — it has a minimalist vibe that brings Khaite’s wildly popular bag to mind.
+I bought an acid-wash denim dress from Target two years ago that I still wear heavily. It feels very…Isabel Marant? This top and this dress nail the look.
I am having the hardest time picking a pair of boots this season — I am circling in on a couple “cowboy-inspired” pairs and they’re all turning my head. I think my top pick for a splurge are the Isabel Marant Luliette boots. They dip their toe in the Western trend but will remain relevant in seasons future. You can get the look for less with this pair from Madewell (currently 25% off). If we are in the mood to lean more aggressively into the trend, I love Isabel Marant’s Denvee boots and Khaite’s similar Dallas boots. You can get the look for less with this pair from Target (under $50). Lots of fabulous options below.
TheFashionMagpie has enjoyed a glow up, and has also formally adopted its longtime nickname: Magpie.
I have wanted to rename my blog for years now, as its focus has expanded so significantly, and meaningfully, over the past many years of conversation with you. I began this blog as “TheFashionMagpie” – someone seeking hidden fashion gems – but for some time now, have been writing about a far wider range of topics, including motherhood, literature, loss, and self-care. There are so many beautiful exchanges about the real stuff of life happening in the comments section on a daily basis. At this point, “TheFashionMagpie” feels like a misnomer. We are much heartier than our name suggests. This is a community that goes to the hard places – death, grief, mom guilt – but also confesses an obsession with fashion. A woman can be all of those things and is often all of those things at once. Magpie therefore remains our perfect mascot: we are women searching for hidden treasure, whether those gems are of the sartorial or self-knowledge variety.
A woman contains multitudes. Of course, as a Magpie reader, you know this.
You can still expect to find the same rhythm and spread of reading: two posts a day, toggling between the freighted and the frivolous. But I hope you enjoy the new and improved reading and browsing experience!
P.P.P.S. If you’re looking for your daily dose of shopping inspiration, look no further than my new shop. I am especially excited about these Halloween plates – the inspiration behind any festive decor I will have at home this year; this fabulous fall dress; and this $28 blouse, which reminds me of the style that just sold out as a part of Hill House’s earlier-this-week launch, to be layered beneath the latest crop of nap dresses!
By: Jen Shoop
I nearly always keep a sweater at my desk, even in summer — I am perennially cold! I know many of you who work in offices struggle with the frigid AC during the summer and can relate, too. I have written about this elsewhere, but I often keep my pearl-trim Vita Grace (seen above) over the back of my chair. It is currently sold out, but it does restock regularly, so I suggest signing up to be notified of the next re-release. I know many of you consider Jenni Kayne’s cashmere cocoon cardigan the ultimate desk sweater — throw on over anything! — and pretty much anything by La Ligne is perfection, including their striped marina sweater. Below, sharing some additional great picks at all price points —
Q: Outfits for me and said (almost) one-year old for family photos. End of October, taking photos outside with hopefully beautiful changing leaves in the background.
A: I had a few variations on this question and will try to answer all here! I would wear a patterned fall dress like this or this with suede boots and put the little in a bubble/dress in either a solid knit or contrasting fall pattern. (Bellabliss has great options, too, for girls over 2, like this, this, this — layer the latter of a white blouse.). As long as there are similar colors, and different scales, I promise it won’t be too busy — just interesting and intentional and fashion-focused. Have the men in the family wear solid colors/tweed to ground the look. This or this for a little boy would be perfect.
Q: Would love recommendations for “milestone” gifts to get oneself (or for ideas to give a partner) to commemorate a special occasion, promotion, birthday, etc. Was thinking an investment piece of jewelry or handbag (or open to other ideas!) Something timeless but “meaningful” and can be passed down. Ideally under $3K but we can flex 😉
A: An Hermes watch! This is one of the best investments I’ve made in my own wardrobe. I wear it close to daily and it elevates even a simple tee. This is the exact style I have. Some days I contemplate buying a new wrist strap since the solid leather does scratch and show (as the saleslady put it) “patina.” But it also looks kind of fantastically lived-in? Anyway, a more practical Magpie might prefer the pebbled variation. Another great buy: a classic pearl necklace from Tiffany or Mikimoto. They never go out of style and accommodate any age. If you have a more whimsical sensibility, you must check out the fabulous jewelry from Brent Neale. She is so inventive and no one is making jewelry like her (or, well — now there are lots of copycats, but she is a true original). These will definitely be pieces coveted in the future and will likely have a strong secondary market (though you will probably won’t to hang onto it!). Her mushrooms already have a cult following! For something more sentimental/romantic/feminine, look at the beautiful pieces by Aurelia Demark, many of which can be customized/personalized.
Q: I need a good quality dress for some upcoming black tie events. I’d love to find one great piece that can be styled in different ways. I haven’t had a formal event since COVID, and right now I’m thicker than I’d like to be. Depending on the fit, I’m size 10 or 12, so I need something fundamentally flattering. Under $1000. Any genius ideas?!? THANK YOU!!
A: I would look at the brand Chiara Boni La Petite Robe. This label is known for its elegant, last-forever styles that flatter a wide range of body types, ages, etc. This one is a best seller for a reason — so elegant, so flattering, so timeless. Love the saucy decolletage but then demure sleeves. I also LOVE their velvet pieces out for fall: this looks like Lanvin and would look insane with big statement earrings. You can add a little edge with fun earrings like these, which I personally own and am obsessed with; they add just a little spunk but are very lightweight. I know some people are allergic to strapless, but this is divine, too.
Q: My firm (social impact investing / venture capital) is doing a firmwide outing to a resort in Mexico in March. Spouses / significant others / etc. are invited also. There are dinners every night including a gala dinner the last night (4 nights total). I have no idea what to bring. My style leans toward classic with a bit of an edge. I’m in my mid 40s and need to be able to wear a bra with anything that I pack. I work with mostly middle-aged men. And, I live in Chicago (and prefer mountains to beaches), so the likelihood of me wearing anything that I buy for this trip frequently enough to make it worth spending lots of money is slim to none :)! I’d love to stay under $150 / evening if I can (maybe a bit more on the last night).
A: I would raid the Farm Rio sale section — tons of spectacular pieces, like this and this, that can be worn with bra and feel appropriate for dining with colleagues. A solid white dress like this could be fun/chic with bright sandals or earrings, and could be worn day-to-night (just swap into wedges/espadrilles). Now is a great time to be buying warm weather clothes because so many epic pieces are on sale…a few other great options:
A: I’m in the same mode. I’ve done a few roundups on blazers, coats, and pants that might be a good starting point, but here are some top-of-the-heap finds I’m contemplating…
Q: MOH dress, January in PA. Only reqs: floor length and black. Love under $350 and forgiving.
A: This Aqua is gorgeous and the panel over the back I think keeps it from being too aggressively form-fitting. I love the style/silhouette of this simple one from Anthro, too — it reminds me of the Staud I’ve been eyeing all season. This one also feels elegant, though you’ll have to figure out the v — is it too low? Not sure if it can be worn with a bra, which is annoying. Finally, over budget, but had to include this stunner.
Q: Fall work outfits that can handle office and toddlers — and don’t require dry cleaning.
A: I like a shirtdress like this, this, or this. Easy, chic, machine-washable. I also love this tiered chocolate brown dress, which could be dressed up or down easily. And this sweater dress is under $100 and machine-washable — would look great with tall boots or sneakers. Or pair smart-looking jeans with a statement knit like this or this and some great loafers.
Q: The daughter of a dear friend has suffered a few miscarriages, but is now set to deliver a baby girl in November. I want to send a special gift after she arrives. It could be clothes, accessories, jewelry, toys, maybe something personalized. Any ideas for something beautiful and meaningful? Thanks.
A: What a sweet question.
If she’s a traditional gal, my first thought was one of these gorgeous knitwear sets from La Coqueta (heirloom quality and so beyond precious), OR one of the gifts from Tiffany’s baby section — something pretty she can put out on her baby’s dresser and pass on as a memento. My aunt sent one of these combs for my daughter and it is a treasure. You can have a lot of them personalized.
Another thought (more practical) would be one of these Jacadi snowsuits — super splurgey (something a lot of moms won’t want to spring for) but great to have on hand for the cold.
Q: Tweed jacket under $200.
A: Lots of great options here, but I especially recommend this versatile Mango and this cute Aqua. If you’re not into the cropped jacket style, you might consider this.
Q: Cords/pants for little boys that aren’t massively baggy (looking at you CPC).
A: Amen! I love Gap’s styles. More of a classic fit — not as skinny as J. Crew’s, but not poufy like a lot of the traditional brands. I also generally like the fit of Janie and Jack and am eyeing this pull on pair from Hanna Andersson.
Q: October wedding guest in South. Husband wearing a tux because he’s a groomsman, but it’s cocktail.
A: Rhode always has great options — I own this in a different pattern, and it’s fun but elegant. Or try this Kay Unger for an Audrey moment! I also love so much of Ulla and SEA right now — this one is gorgeous for a fall wedding, and this one is just fabulous. And sorry to sound like a broken record, but this Staud is perfection with big earrings!
Q: A chic timeless handbag.
A: Lots of great options here, but I still think the APC is a great investment that will stand the test of time. Upgrade picks: anything from Celine.
By: Jen Shoop
I used to shop for my children sporadically and opportunistically — e.g., when I’d see something I liked, I’d pounce — but this left me with heavily lopsided wardrobes where I’d have, like, twelve fall dresses but no leggings, or a sweater that could only be worn with one thing in my daughter’s closet. I have gotten better over time. My general rule now is to buy a lot of solid leggings from Cat + Jack and Old Navy and to invest more heavily in cute sweaters and tops. If I really love a pair of patterned pants/leggings, I need to make sure I have a top that pairs perfectly with it (or buy it as a part of a full look) — or vice versa. If there is a sweater in an idiosyncratic print, I need to make sure I buy it alongside something it can be worn with. This prevents drawer stragglers. On the cute tops/sweaters front, I had to call in reinforcements this year because my daughter is sizing out of a lot of my favorite little girls’ brands — she is now into a size 7 or 8 sometimes! — and one girlfriend with great taste recommended Bisby and Pink Chicken as brands that bridges the gap for those of us who generally prefer a traditional/sweet look but are sizing out of the brands that end at 6/6x. Noted! I also saw that Cecil & Lou has some cute sets that does the heavy lifting for you.
+Fortunately, I think we still have one last season where she can wear my favorite everyday dresses from Luigi! I already bought her this blue in 6x. I also have in my cart this CPC Kids Peter Pan collar dress (40% off), and am liking the look of this new dress style from Little English. These cotton-with-peter-pan-collar dresses really work for both mini and myself – she finds them comfortable (she is now resistant to my preferred starchy/smocked styles, weep!) and I like the tailored, traditional look.
+I thought this quilted sweatsuit situation was a great, elevated take on athleisure. I know my daughter will love wearing these separately and together. More sizes here.
+Caroline Bisby top — to layer with leggings. Amazon has a great similar style for about half the price that I’ve bought in years past. She is definitely too tall to wear even the largest size this year, though. Such an easy everyday school look.
+Ralph Lauren flag sweater. A classic. Mini has owned this in other sizes in years past, and the quality is incredible. I love this with jeans or a little navy skirt.
+I thought this cape would be so fun to layer over leggings!
+This jumper is beyond precious. I have the same style in a past-season plaid that I’ve hung onto waiting for her to fit into it! Will be adorable with a turtleneck, Bisby blouse, or peter pan collar top.
+I’ve wanted to buy mini one of these La Coqueta coats for several seasons and finally took the plunge. Cannot wait! She’ll wear this to Church every Sunday! Honestly, my dream wardrobe for mini would be everything in La Coqueta’s fall collection but it is spend-y. I restrained myself by buying only this versatile classic (so far), but I am drooling over this for Thanksgiving.
+Meep! This Babidu! I can’t!!! This one is also precious. Slightly more affordable than La Coqueta but similar vibe.
+I know mini will not love me layering her up but I don’t think I can resist a knit gilet like this to layer over a blouse and pair with fall skirt or shorts?
+Last year, we got a lot of mileage out of Lila + Hayes’ leggings sets. They do great colors.
+Sunhouse’s patterns and details are unparalleled — this dress is beyond precious.
+Mini had this puffer in a past season and it was so, so cute — such a fun way to get the Liberty floral vibe for less.
+This Pink Chicken cardigan is adorable and so versatile!
+For footwear, we’re still big into Cienta Mary Janes (some cute florals on sale here), though now she wears these in navy to school with her uniform and I am eyeing some other options for weekend/dress wear. I am loving these corduroy ones from Childrenchic.
P.P.S. On feeling weepy sending my boy off to school last year: “…motherhood is like that, I find: the tiniest tug might lever the most enormous lurch of the heart. Sort of like fishing, I think: a little nibble, you reel, and you might find a whale at the other end of the line.”
I have written elsewhere about my love for the modern thriller. One reason for my interest in this genre is my perception of its relationship to literary history. At the University of Virginia, I took a course called “Gothic Spaces” that examined the representation of “place” in Gothic novels, positing that many of the genre’s physical motifs — hidden stairwells, crumbling walls, haunted castles, deadlocked attics — communicated psychological subtexts in significant ways. I read the contemporary thriller as a modern manifestation of the Gothic mode as I learned it at Virginia. So many modern thrillers foreground physical edifices — think The Paris Apartment, The Turn of the Key, Greenwich Park, In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10 — and nearly all of those spaces are private homes. There is a sense in these novels that horrific things don’t happen “out in the world” but in the privacy of our own homes. In these novels, homes are entrapments, walls of mirrors, spaces that should feel safe but aren’t, places where we learn, in shock, that the people we married are not who we thought they were. There are corpses buried in the foundation (Greenwich Park, Not a Happy Family), there are near-dead bodies in the attic (The Paris Apartment), and — almost invariably — there are secrets to the ownership of these homes that prove harrowing. Beware the blissful domestic scene, these novels seem to chant — you don’t know what ills it conceals. And — don’t get trapped in your own home!
There is so much to contemplate in this problematization of the domestic space across these novels. Perhaps most obviously, this narrative convention interrogates the convention of marriage, in which “the home and hearth” serves as its easy metonymy. By this I mean that these books invite us to ponder questions of financial independence for women, marriage and even “family” as a potentially problematic social construct, and gender roles writ large. I especially feel these tensions in Shari La Pena’s books, in which we are often ensconced in a happy neighborhood on the outskirts of a city only to find that the spouse, or the couple next door, has skeletons in his/their closet that upset and distort suburban bliss. In several of these novels, too, we find husbands who are architects (Greenwich Park, Turn of the Key), and their role in the creation of spaces that ultimately trap or terrorize the female protagonists is telling. I think a Feminist reading of these texts would prove fascinating, though I am much less schooled in that literary lens, having favored “close reading” and “textualist” approaches to literature in my former academic pursuits. Still, there is so much meat on the bone to contemplate, even for those of us without the contextual crutches.
Setting aside the conjuring of physical space in these novels, though, I wanted to comment on one other interesting parallel between Gothic novels of the 18th and 19th centuries and the ones being published today under the auspices of the “modern thriller.” In so many of the originals (thinking particularly of Castle of Otranto), we find female protagonists who faint under conditions of extreme stress and shock. This convention feels irritatingly outmoded to the modern woman. But these “fainting scenes” had the interesting narrative result of creating confusion and lapse in the text — that is, we might not know what actually happened in a scene because the protagonist fell unconscious. In the contemporary thriller, authors are using alcohol and drug abuse to achieve the same effect. How many times do we encounter a shaky-handed protagonist pour herself too much wine and then “rub her temples, trying to remember what happened”? How often are we led to wonder whether a character was drugged in a scene? The use of substances in these scenes introduces interesting narrative disruptions — loopholes in which we scramble to figure out what might have happened. Ultimately, these lapses contribute to the hermeneutics of thriller-reading. But I find the shift between the fainting of the Gothic protagonist and the substance abuse of the modern thriller’s protagonist telling. We are no longer to read the woman’s frail body as a cause for narrative distress; it is now the introduction of an alien substance (occasionally against the woman’s will) that builds intrigue.
Would love to hear your thoughts on these observations!
+Magpie will be undergoing a major glow up in the next week or two, and the site may be temporarily unavailable at some point during this time. We will be back up and running with a new look (but the same far-flung mix of posts, toggling between the freighted and the frivolous) in short order! I have wanted to shorten the name from TheFashionMagpie to Magpie for years now and cannot wait to introduce you to the new nest. In the meantime, should you encounter it, please pardon the dust.
Shopping Break.
+If you like the Ulla J. Elsie dress but it’s a bit out of budget, this OPT is a fantastic sub for under $200. Both are perfection for fall occasions (even Thanksgiving).
+Going to do a full roundup of fall/winter boots soon, but these are such a great pick for pairing with all these fabulous fall floral dresses.
+The Home Edit just launched some great organizational pieces at Walmart — this 8-pack of clear organizing bins is under $25! You know I love these for cabinet/under-sink/craft/closet storage. I also thought this hot tool organizer was clever.
+Ordering myself a new floor mirror and cannot decide between this one I’ve been eyeing forever or this simpler one in the perfect shade of Magpie blue. For an eye-popping splurge, check out the ones from Fleur Home. Wowwww.
+For some reason the Ganni coat so many of us have been eyeing is like $100 less here than anywhere else on the internet?
+Elizabeth Strout readers rejoice: her newest installment with the Lucy Barton character will be released on Sep 22.
+Easy and adorable fall weekend outfit for your toddler: LE turtlenecks beneath LE overalls. I will say the overalls run very narrow — I find the Osh Kosh ones are a better fit for little toddler boys still hanging onto their baby fat. Micro has definitely thinned out over the past year (weep) and I have a hunch he’ll fit better in the LEs now, at age 3, then he did when he was still a little pudge at 2.
+PSA — found Lilly shifts for littles on sale for $29 here in infant sizes and here in girl sizes. Buy ahead for next summer!
+Alice Walk just released the cutest reversible quilted coat.
+I haven’t shopped at Hanna Andersson in awhile but they have some intriguing, classic basics for boys out — this sweatshirt, these cords.
By: Jen Shoop
I wrote a little bit over the weekend about my new foray into Ayr’s wildly popular tees, and it made me realize how much I lean on this category of clothing in the cool weather seasons. Below, a round up to round out your fall wardrobe.
THE KULE MODERN LONG — Runs a bit boxy and has a slightly thick, non-stretch fabric. Take your true size. Note that “the modern long” is a bit of a misnomer — I do not find this tee “long.” It is not cropped, but it is not long, either. I’m 5’0 and it hits at my natural hip. They are currently running a promo for 20% off any two tees. I own about five or six of these. I love the stripe options (such good colors, and the perfect width) and the fun little grosgrain tag on the front. (I take an XS.)
COS LONG-SLEEVED TEES — I have not yet ordered one since I now have about fifteen thousand striped tees, but the fit and weight of this tee read very on-trend. I love the substantialness of the collar width, too.
J. CREW VINTAGE COTTON CREWNECK TEE — My longtime favorite. I buy these in bulk. I like the ever-so-slightly-burned-out quality to these? What I mean is: these tees are not an opaque, thick white — it’s a tissue-thin, soft, tagless wonder that is PERFECT for layering beneath jackets, sweaters, blazers, etc. It has no bunching/bulking.). Max comfort and versatility. The fit is just super-classic. This is the lightest-weight tee of the roundup for sure. What I love about these, too, is that given how much I wear white tees, I won’t be out of sorts when I spill on one given the price tag. (I take an XXS or an XS — TBH I don’t notice much of a difference?)
RAG & BONE CREW NECK TEE — For a splurge, try this one. The material is silky (and stretchy) in a way that looks almost professional and style has a seam down the middle of the back that somehow elevates the entire effect. (I bought this in an XXS but wish I’d taken an XS — it’s just a tiny bit too snug for my taste.)
LESET MARGO TEE — This is a style currently in my cart. I have been hearing such good things about this $70 tee as a solid investment.
UNIQLO U-NECK TEE — If Julia Amory and Caitlin Fisher (<<see her in it here) rave about it, you know it must be good. Elle magazine ran a feature on this tee in which the editor commented, “The $15 tee that people always stop me about.” I think it’s the slightly thicker neckline — very chic. A little more interesting than you’re average tee. Did I mention it’s $15?!
ALICE WALK CREW TEE — The shape of this tee is ultra-flattering if you prefer an untucked look. It sort of nips in at the waist and then flares out a bit to cover the hips without appearing to stretch. It drapes so nicely! I love the slightly-longer-than-cap-sleeve length of the sleeve — it hits at a flattering part of my arm. And the material is HEAVEN. This tee is like wearing pajamas all day long. Ultra-soft — buttery soft! — and with just the tiniest hint of, like, sheen? It looks very expensive IRL. (I take an XS.)
AYR FRENCH FRY — I’m new to this brand and now I’m wondering what I waited so long for. These have a delightfully stretchy, silky weight that makes them perfect for tucking into high-waisted denim — the Kule is thicker and therefore a bit trickier to tuck for this look. I like the dropped shoulder. A reader asked about the neckline since it looks like it sits a bit higher on the throat than your average tee — I agree that this is the effect but it is not uncomfortable/tight in the least. Honestly I hadn’t noticed this feature until the reader pointed it out! I also ordered one of their short-sleeved Sno Cone tees — another slam dunk. They market the “Sno Cone” as “the perfect length tee,” and I agree. Easy to tuck in but also looks great untucked with high-waist denim without looking sloppy. The sleeves are pretty boxy on these, but intentionally so.
EVERLANE BOX CUT TEE — I have many of these in short and long-sleeved lengths. These are my go-to for more of a boxy/cropped fit. Inexpensive and well-made. I also find these launder really nicely. (I take an XXS.)
