The exaggerated collar trend is not over—these statement tops are a stunning take on a classic piece. Above, I am wearing a Zara steal I bought two years ago that I have found myself consistently reaching for this spring. I tuck into light- or mid-wash straight leg denim. Below, a round-up of a few favorite statement collar blouses to get the look. I will specifically mention that this Boden, this on-sale Ophelia and Indigo, and this $21 Target steal are great ways to get the trend for less.
COTTON-VOILE BUTTON-FRONT BLOUSE WITH PUFF SLEEVE AND RUFFLE COLLAR IN BLUE FLORAL
EYELET COLLARED BLOUSE WITH DAINTY TIE DETAILS AND CURVED HEM
WRAP TOP WITH BALLOON SLEEVES AND SCALLOPED EDGES — THE COLLAR IS DETACHABLE ON THIS STATEMENT PIECE
Q: Baby/toddler girl sunglasses. Love your daughter’s!
A: Thank you! Hers are the Cat Cat style by Sons and Daughters. Way cool! I also like WeeFarer’s Ray Ban-esque pair and these flower-shaped ones.
Q: Wedding gift for a sister — doesn’t need to be registry. College student budget. Thanks!
A: Laguiole steak knives. We received a pair for our wedding that we use several times a week, to this day. They are beautiful with the wood handles and for $100, a fantastic investment!
Q: An elegant, feminine dress to wear to my grandmother’s funeral this spring.
A: I am so sorry for your loss. This Elie Tahari is elegant and sophisticated. For something with a bit more of a perspective, I love this Sandro.
Q: Affordable (under $200) wide leg work trousers. Or summer office clothes in general.
A: Banana Republic has such fun pairs right now – these are fab, and these in the white would make me feel like a million bucks. I own and love this pair from Veronica Beard (on sale for under $100) — chic with a blazer. This more casual pair from Spanx is getting really good reviews. Can you wear jeans in your office? I like the idea of these with a dramatic white blouse.
Q: Swimsuits, age 35, 8 months post partum with third baby.
A: First, you might enjoy reading this Op Ed, titled: “I’m 56 years old. Damn straight I’m wearing a bikini this summer.” I read it and nodded vigorously and — onwards!!! Second, so many Magpies have raved about the fit of this one-piece from Tory Burch and the famous Hunza G. They seem almost universally loved for their flattering shapes! I am also personally obsessing over the rash guards from Mott50 — lots of coverage but you can unzip top not to feel too buttoned up — and this dramatic Juan de Dios, which actually offers a lot of coverage and a flattering high waist but still feels very high fashion.
Q: White shirt dress — midi or knee-length, more structure. Not a caftan shape. Sleeves!
A: I would look at Frette, Yves Delorme, and Matouk if you’re planning on making an investment. I also find Boll and Branch to be of wonderful quality for the price — we use these sheets in our primary bedroom. Though I think Matouk, Frette, and YD have more dramatic, tailored, interesting, high-end designs (strongly considering those brands for our primary bedroom whenever we re-do it), I do find that B&B is easier to care for than at least Matouk and YD (have not tried Frette) but similar in feel/refinement.
Q: Summer dresses for early pregnancy — little to no bump but need space.
A: Congratulations! I shared a bunch of maternity-friendly finds here, many of which are not explicitly maternity but offer room to grow. I would specifically consider nap dresses, Frances Hart’s smocked dresses (for all stages of motherhood!), the caftans from Mi Golondrina, these loose-fit blockprint dresses (or the ones from SZ Blockprints or Mille), statement dresses from Hunter Bell like this and this, and cute floaty minis from Doen.
A: J. Crew has great ones with interesting fits — like this cropped style and have been absolutely living in this half-zip, which comes in SUCH great colors and has a nice light weight. Kule also makes a great solid sweatshirt — I have this exact style and it always feels like a step up from athleisure.
Q: Dress for a wedding in Palm Springs in June – under $150. Thanks!
A: Fun! I like this En Saison, this Wayf, this French Connection, this Wayf. More wedding guest dress options under $150 here! This under-$100 black style feels very Ulla-meets-Ciao-Lucia and will be perfect for nearly any occasion, and you know I love this black and white polka dot gown!
Q: Floor lamp.
A: I love so many of the ones from C&B, especially this linen one, and this scalloped style from Serena and Lily.
Q: Bridal shoes! Statement making but comfortable enough to dance all night in.
A: I am swooning over these! Very expensive, but these Choos have been on my radar for years now. Last but not least, you could switch into these gamine satin mary janes to dance in!
Below, a selection of the best cost-conscious pieces I have seen lately—I LOVE a good deal. If you have had your eye on anything at Madewell lately, they are taking 20% off summer faves with discount code WARMUP until midnight tomorrow (May 11th).
WOVEN TOTE WITH PEARL EMBELLISHMENTS FOR SOME EXTRA FLAIR
V-NECK DRESS IN A SIMPLE BLUE FLORAL PRINT — THE LOW CUT BACK IS SO CHIC FOR SUMMER
LONG SLEEVE BEIGE MAXI DRESS WITH EYELET EMBROIDERY DETAILING, BREATHEABLE FOR WARMER MONTHS, BUT A GREAT LAYERING PIECE YEAR-ROUND…
Earlier this month, stationery company Crane featured me in their “From the Desk Of” series. I couldn’t believe when the brand reached out to me, as my very first set of stationery was Crane, and I have always associated it with the desirable decorousness of adulthood. My inaugural set was given to me by my mother when I was perhaps seven or eight, along with a stern beseechment: “Always write your thank you notes immediately.” To this day, I cannot stand the mounting sense of guilt that accompanies each day that passes between the receipt of a gift and the day I have put a thank you note in the mail. And so I often follow my mother’s suit, putting pen to paper the very day I’ve received something.
It was in college that I started to write letters in earnest, and fervently. I sustained an intense epistolarity with my best friend from high school, who had matriculated from Visitation to Villanova, and though we also wrote elaborate, painstakingly-detailed missives via email, it was not uncommon for letters postmarked from Charlottesville to pile up in her dorm mailbox. At one point, she assembled several months’ worth of emails, cards, and letters into a binder that she decorated and labeled THE VORTEX, a reference to our jejune philosophy of life at that time, which posited that living was akin to navigating a series of strange, often subterranean connections, and that we must remain alert to pathways and patterns in the seeming randomness. (Ah.) During my first year of college, I also received many letters and cards from other friends (Elizabeth included — she was a thoughtful pen pal who often sent collages of Abercrombie models and funny quotes clipped out of magazine articles with my name in bubbly letters in the middle) and even would-be suitors, which now feels archaic to the point of ancient. I had forgotten much of this until I came across a box of photos and letters from my college years during the move to our new home in Bethesda. I read through a three page letter from a once-dear-friend who attended Boston College and had apparently burned me a CD (now lost), and a small stack from a boy up in Vermont to whom a mutual friend had introduced me at a row house party in Georgetown. He begins these letters: “Beautiful baby –” (!) Shockingly intimate for someone I barely knew.
But then, there is never a substitute for the intimacy of a hand-written note. And perhaps I realized that in college and leaned into letter-writing for that reason. When you are young, your friends are everything, and the sensation of closeness to others during that formative period is paramount. Letters were one way to feel singularly connected to people, as though establishing a private and uninterruptible channel not likely prone to surveillance by peers. I loved the opportunity to observe in the slant of a character or the scratch-out of a word or even the smudge of ink on the back of the card some hidden insight into its author.
When Crane reached out to me and then generously sent me a set of their beautiful new stationery, I made a small commitment to myself to clip back into my former, prolific epistolarity. I was further motivated to make good on this pledge when I unearthed bundles of letters I wrote to my parents during my time studying abroad in Lyon during college that are movingly marked with marginalia in my father’s blocky all-caps hand-writing: “ELAINE — PLS RETURN.” I imagine my father reading my melodramatic, schmaltzy letters with a kind of knowing smile (“ah, Jennifer”) and then placing them on my mother’s desk before filing them away in his evidently expansive vault of memorabilia from his five children. Truly these letters are vapid affairs, but their detail and volume speak only of my unwavering dedication to my parents.
It is good, in other words, to let your feelings dry on paper and to enclose them in an envelope addressed to a loved one. I am always moved by the time someone has afforded me by sitting down to write something by hand. You cannot simply “try again” as you might using a Word processor or iMessage. You must really focus, and that focus is a form of love.
Post-Scripts.
+More on the notion of female friendship and epistolarity.
+What would you study if you were going back to college tomorrow?
Shopping Break: At My Desk.
+My favorite pens: these are incredible. Super fine point but glide better than Le Pens (my runner-up). When I’m feeling ceremonious, I love this rose gold pen Mr. Magpie gave me a few years ago.
+For stowing meaningful letters: Bigso boxes. Bonus is that they look pretty on a shelf.
+For drafts and notes: Leuchtterm gridded notebooks. I adopted the European way of writing on squared or dotted paper while studying abroad and have never abandoned it, no matter how affected it seems. I love the way gridded/squared paper works with my minuscule handwriting.
A few weeks ago, the new, female-founded sunglasses brand Anea Hill reached out and ended up gifting me the gorgeous shades above. I love the oversized cateye shape and nude-pink color. So up my alley, and a fun upgrade from my similarly-shaped longtime favorite Le Specs sunnies, which I own in three colors. Anea Hill has offered Magpie readers 10% off their entire collection with code JENNIFERSHOOP.
I’m sharing a few other fabulous sunglasses options below! I also wanted to mention that, speaking from personal experience, sunnies are the easiest accessories to lose — you might consider this rattan orb strap or this pearl beaded chain (which I’ve used as a mask chain the entire pandemic!)
Mr. Magpie and I have been making good on our May commitments. We started the month with a “hike” (mild walk) at Scott’s Run in McLean, VA. Mr. Magpie flustered me by investigating fungi in oak stumps along the rain-packed trail, sharing flotsam of foraging history and practice he’s been collecting in his self-study of mushrooms the past few weeks. I say “flustered” because I was half-waiting for him to insist he’d found a patch of “hen of the woods” to cook up for dinner, and that’s a risky business. (He is, of course, too wise, respectful, and circumspect to actually forage in a National Park, but he enjoyed joking about it.) We stood on the banks of the Potomac and I was reminded of why I love this stretch of the mid-Atlantic, deep family roots here aside: the landscape feels as it might have felt in the 1800s, or 1600s, or 1400s for that matter. The banks are dense with foliage and rocks, and D.C. bears a squat cityscape, so you see nothing but sky and rock-riddled water and the soft plumage of trees for as far as you can make out. For the most part, trailgoers are respectful, and you witness scant unnatural debris. Just our luck, too: the prior evening’s rain showers had erased the trail of footsteps and other evidence that anyone but Mr. Magpie and I had been in those parts for some time. I felt again the pleasantly dizzying sense of my own insignificance, a vertigo to which I find myself succumbing every now and again when I am in the presence of a greatness so wide as to be incomputable. If you ever feel as though you might be earning the chastisement: “Not everything happens to you,” stand on the banks of the unchanged* Potomac and you will at once find your ego winnowed down to nothing. There is a long history to contend with, and ancient, avuncular oaks beside. It is not unkind, this belittlement. It is necessary right-sizing after the rain.
Post-Scripts.
*Used artfully here. The Potomac carries a long history of heavy pollution. As a child, I remember being privy to dark jokes suggesting that if the bacteria in the Potomac didn’t kill you, a dead body buried there might pull you in.
+LR just released the perfect wedding guest (and/or bridal!) shoe — glitzy and fun but eminently wearable (with a block heel in case you’re in grass!) for a long night of dancing.
+Speaking of LR, these woven platforms have been selling out left and right but found a stash of them here.
+A million years ago, I hosted a series of in-person Magpie book clubs, mainly in Central Park and occasionally at the apartments of generous attendees (including Inslee and Alison). I occasionally keep in touch with the participants, and some of them send me book recs. One just sent me this book recommendation, saying it reminded her of my obsession with the book Circe. Will definitely be reading.
+Absolutely smitten with this saucy white mini — possible contender for my 12 year anniversary this August!
*Image above via Staud featuring its lovely collection of dramatic sheer dresses, including their tiered hyacinth dress and the callaluna floral.
One of my favorite throwaway anecdotes in Katie Couric’s memoir: Katie’s first husband, Jay, used to say, “Katie was born on a sunny day.” What a beautiful tribute to her upbeat disposition, and an inspiration for me to lead with positivity. Below, some happy pieces fit for sunny days, and included among them are several pieces from creatives that graduated from the alma mater that Katie Couric and I share, The University of Virginia. I am especially enamored with the gorgeous mixed-media arch panels by fellow Wahoo, Evan Neuhaus Mooney, who lived in my first-year hall, and the fantastic paper goods by Marion Meytheler of Mamey Design.
And for micro: Lacoste masks (I swear he loses a mask a week), a few pairs of Oso and Me shorts, gingham pajamas, nautical pajamas (SO cute IRL), and a rugby stripe sweatshirt.
I often order their clothes in batches — next up, I am eyeing a pair of these waterproof loafers for micro, a few of these everyday play dresses from TBBC, and Lila + Hayes shorts sets for micro (whenever they go on sale!)
You’re Soooo Popular: Spring Finds.
The most popular items on Magpie this week:
COLOR-CHANGING OK TO WAKE CLOCK — THIS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY INSTRUMENTAL IN KEEPING OUR CHILDREN IN THEIR ROOMS UNTIL A REASONABLE HOUR
I have been thoroughly enjoying Stanley Tucci’s food memoir. The writing runs a bit imbalanced, but his is a clever, sharp, observant voice and his passion for food is contagious. I have particularly treasured the passages about the childhood meals enjoyed with his Italian-American family. There is a lovely bit in which he describes the musty wine cellar in which his grandfather stored homemade jarred tomato sauce, hunks of salami, and his own wine. “Was it the best wine I’ve ever had? No. Was it the worst wine I’ve ever had? Close to it.” (Ha!) But he concludes by saying that the family happily enjoyed it because it was his grandfather’s proud handiwork and something of a sacrament of his family’s tradition of self-reliance, connection to the home and garden, and celebration.
One of the things I have loved about his writing is the way in which he reminds me that even the humblest offerings — he talks often about the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches his mother made him — can become a kind of relic of love.
I was reminded of the way my Italian grandmother, Carmella, used to prepare tomato sandwiches for us when we’d arrive to visit in Painesville, Ohio. The offering was simple: a thick slice of tomato covered in delicatessen provolone and laid atop a slice of Italian bread before being toasted in the oven until just melted. I recall eating them standing up in her small kitchen, even before I’d stowed my bag in the guest bedroom. She never seemed to eat with us — in fact, despite the overflowing plates of rigatoni she’d make for dinner, I can’t remember her actually putting a fork to her mouth. Instead, she’d embrace us and urge us to eat while clearing dishes. I can still remember the way she said my father’s name while plying him to “eat another,” with the tenderness only a mother can have for a son, and it always made me see my father differently: I’d catch the most transient glimpse of him as a boy, in need of his own mother, rather than the disciplined patriarch he was in our own home.
I wish I could remember more of her. Inspired by Tucci, I pulled out a slim book my father self-published years ago on all four of my grandparents, such that my siblings and I would always remember them and their fascinating, brave, diverse stories (three of my four grandparents were immigrants or children of immigrants to the US). In it, my father specifically mentions the tomato sandwiches (!), along with a moving passage that explains that my grandmother abruptly abandoned the detailed social journal she’d kept for 25 years the day my aunt died. “The last entry, the only one in Aser’s [my grandfather’s] handwriting, was from February 22, 1993, and it simply noted that ‘Pat died today.'” I wrote about this in a post a few years back, reflecting that my aunt was how my grandmother had kept time. The interruption of her social diary was a jarring representation of the “the all-consuming centricity of parenthood, the reframing of all things, the centripetal force of [our] daughters.”
Anyhow. Let me pull myself together. The tomato sandwiches! Simple fare elevated by childhood memory, as though haloed by my grandmother’s love. I think I’ll make some for my children this weekend.
+I’m not normally a black dress gal, but can’t stop thinking about this style after seeing it on Stephanie.
+A lot of you spotted my son in these pull-on seersucker pants and wanted to know the source — I wanted to mention I found a very similar style for 1/3 of the price here.
+Currently drooling over these woven crossbodies from Cesta. I also love their popular lunchpail shape!
+These blazers are SO chic. Love the dramatic gold buttons, and VB is top-rate in terms of tailoring/cut. You can get the look for less with this style.
+I’ve had a few inquiries about children’s birthday party themes. My first rec is to look at what Erin Wallace has dreamed up and build out from the invitation, but I also love the idea of a race car themed party using this suite of Meri Meri products. (The big gift could be this car, which micro has!, and would double as perfect party decor. Imagine tying a bunch of balloons to the steering wheel and having it greet guests at the door!)
*Image above via If Only If Nightwear. I am swooning over their latest collection!
I’ve long been drawn to items with scalloped edges. My first set of sheets out of college was Matouk’s Scallop, an enormous investment at the time that I splurged to have monogrammed. Old habits die hard, I guess — I still find anything with a scallop trim impossible to resist. Blogger and businesswoman Julia Berolzheimer just launched a limited edition collaboration with Pottery Barn featuring a range of beautiful home and garden finds, many featuring a scalloped edge. I am drooling over these scalloped tole planters and this gorgeous etagere, which would be lovely in an entryway or sunroom or mud room. I am also totally smitten with the new nightwear collection from If Only If and am eyeing this scalloped-edge nightie (seen above). I want to wear it during the day, too! Lake has some similar lounge dresses with scalloped detail in pretty colors, too.
These and a few other spectacular scalloped finds from all over…
Q: Retirement gift for my mom. I got my dad a S&B life belt but can’t think of a comparable gift for her.
A: What about a custom Hart Hagerty charm necklace? You can pick all the charms so that it’s customized to her past career or just more generally about her life thus far. Another idea would be to lean into hobbies or trips she might be gearing up for — gardening gear, travel gear, etc? I shared some great travel items here. I like the symbology of something pertaining to travel, i.e., “For your NEXT adventure…” Last but not least, if she does not yet have one, perhaps you could get her a Kindle and a gift card to fuel her retirement reading habit!
A: Inexpensive (like under $50, does it exist?) heel for summer weddings.
Q: Chic hiking attire for a summer trip to Iceland.
A: I understand it can be quite cold there even in summer — I would lean towards layers. (The Icelandic brand 66North has a guide on what to pack and wear here, FYI, and they sell a bunch of weather-appropriate pieces, including these leggings specifically designed for Icelandic hiking). I would start with a base layer from Tracksmith, Smartwool, We Norwegians, or Bogner. All of these are specifically designed for athletic wear outdoors — breathable but warm. I would pair any of these with merino leggings, like the ones from 66North, or Tracksmith’s Turnover style (which I would wear running outdoors in like 8 degrees and still feel fine in). If there is milder weather, you could get away with this chic pair from Falke. For a mid-layer or top-layer (depending on how cold), you might consider one of these NB Heat Loft tunics. I have a jacket and a pullover in NB’s Heat Loft technology and I don’t understand how it works but it REALLY keeps the heat in but still allows you to breathe and move? It’s incredible. Pack proper hiking socks from Smartwool (note they have different “cushion”/weights available, including this heavier duty one) or Darn Tough. I have always wanted the red-laced hiking boots from Danner, but regardless, make sure you have legit hiking boots! Finally, for outerwear, you might consider the options from Stio. One option for a slightly milder day — pair base layer and mid layer and toss this AMAZING Marmot windbreaker in your backpack. It is easy to compress / folds down to nothing, but does a good job of insulating and protecting from wind (and rain, obviously). I wore this and the matching pants a lot while hiking in CO. Really solid rain gear! And don’t forget a hat! I like this one.
Q: Destination wedding (formal).
A: This is beyond magic, this is romantic, this is punchy, and I adore this dramatic tiered black style. All of them feel to me a bit more “party-ready” (i.e., destination wedding appropriate) than “formal” might read in, say, Manhattan.
Q: Rehearsal dinner in June — I’m the bride.
A: Congratulations! I have been obsessing over this Rebecca Taylor dress. Spectacular and would be ideal for a rehearsal dinner in June. Also love this La Ligne, and if you are open to something with color on it, this Lug Von Siga is unbelievable.
Q: Guest bathroom soap dispenser.
A: I love the styles from Kassatex — we have this one in our guest bathroom, and I also like this one. (Though they are labeled as “lotion dispensers,” they work for soap.) If you have a coastal vibe, consider these steals from UO and Target.
Q: Matching or coordinating outfits for 1 y/o and3 y/o ring bearers — August in Maine.
A: If super traditional/formal, dobby suits from Little English or Rachel Riley. Alternately, a suit — Janie and Jack makes them in tiny sizes! I like the way a suit or dungarees look on a little boy paired with a mandarin collar top. If less formal, go with seersucker-centric outfits, like this look for the baby and a suit for the older boy.
Q: Bridal “getting ready” robe, something very feminine and a little sexy.
A: Congratulations! This long Lunya is spectacular — I love the cuffs and delicate waist tie. Cosabella has a pretty lace-trim style that feels a propos, and a full lace one (you’d need a white slip beneath). A bit bolder, but Julia Amory has some fantastic printed/ruffled styles that could be fun, and if you like that vibe but not in a pattern, consider this ruffle-trim style from Lenora. A bit louder/saucier: this feather-trim style!
Q: Fun, inexpensive clutch to bring to weddings.
A: This $128 clutch reminds me of the Cult Gaia style everyone has been loving! Major statement! I also love my satin Roop bag — I have a black and white polka dot style but comes in tons of fun colors! Alternately, less bold, but this affordable rattan clutch would be a workhorse. More casual: this ark style!
Q: Affordable matching pajamas for cousins. Unisex and size 3m-6/7!
A: Old Navy! They have a great citrus print (baby, toddler, children) and I also like the navy stars (baby, toddler/children). I also like this c A bit pricier, but Hanna Andersson has some styles 40% off right now – I like the baltic stripes.
Q: Religious medal/token for woman struggling with infertility.
A: This is really such a beautiful question — you are a good friend. My friend Christina sells fertility dolls and keychains handmade by artisans in Ghana in her home decor boutique, St. Frank. In the Catholic faith, St. Gerard is the patron saint for expectant mothers/fertility, and you can find lots of medals with his likeness on Etsy, like this vintage tin pin or this rope bracelet.
Q: French Market bag / panier.
A: This Etsy one is a perennial best-seller. I also like the ones with the colored handles from the same boutique! For something a bit smaller with more flair, I like this wicker style and this one from Amanda Lindroth. Splurge: Loewe has several, including this popular style and this one. And this $59 Mango steal has a very Loewe vibe.
Q: Cute headband. Under $20. Growing out my dyed hair and need something to break it up.
A: I love a classic tortoise style — very polished, very Grace Kelly. A two-pack will run you $10 here! A few other options: on-trend rattan or straw, white eyelet, or ($4 over) the linen styles from Madewell, which I adore, like this one and this one.
First off: my Bijou dress (seen on me above) is included! I am in love with this dress for spring. The floral pattern is exquisite (and the colors unusual). As with many Doen pieces, you must wear with a slip beneath (very shear).
