By: Jen Shoop

A few favorite finds (Mr. Magpie, don’t look…) for the men in your life this holiday season:

holiday gifts for men 2021

+AMI SWEATSHIRT. Give your man street cred in the carpool dropoff line. I gave Mr. Magpie a sweatshirt from Maison Kitsune last year and he looked at me askance at first but then realized the value of a high-end sweatshirt: he often layered it over collared shirts for a polished but “trendier” vibe. These sweatshirts look so much more high-end because they are tailored/snug and well-constructed. I’m eyeing AMI this year — I like to find little ways to introduce some edge into his wardrobe.

+GROVEMADE MACBOOK STAND. This site has the handsomest desktop accessories, including the macbook stand above or this monitor stand. With so much WFH happening, these are chic and functional ways to elevate his workspace.

+AURELIEN DRIVING SHOES. I thought these were incredibly handsome. Come in other colors, too!

+SERIES 7 APPLE WATCH. This was at the top of my list for Mr. Magpie this year, but we went ahead and bought it for him already. I love (!) the exact combo shown above, which is what we selected for Mr. Magpie — the green watch trim with the green/brown leather band.

+PECAN SMOKING CHIPS. For the grilling/smoking enthusiast. Mr. Magpie just discovered these and was brimming with excitement when they arrived — he’d never used pecan to grill with before.

+ALEX MILL CASHMERE CABLEKNIT BEANIE. I always include a beanie on my shopping lists for dudes. Every man looks great in one! This specific one in the heathered olive would look so handsome on Mr. Magpie, who has hazel eyes.

+YETI BEER CAN INSULATOR. Can’t think of a man in my life who wouldn’t love this. Already dog-eared as part of a gift if I draw one of my brothers-in-law for our Secret Santa this year.

+SIMPLE HUMAN COMPOSTING BIN. We’ve been contemplating starting a composting bin in our new home — this one is sleek and compact.

+ULTIMATE EARS BLUETOOTH SPEAKER. I had been eyeing a less expensive bluetooth speaker for Mr. Magpie to take with him when he’s doing gardening/yardwork, but this one caught my eye — nearly 6,300 5 star reviews and under $100.

+BILLYKIRK LEATHER VALET. Does your man come home and empty his pockets onto the kitchen counter, or on top of his desk? I was just thinking this leather catchall would be so chic on Mr. Magpie’s desk as a place to store the wallet, keys, sunglasses, pocket knife he’s always divesting.

+WYZE SMART PLUGS. A good stocking stuffer, but this will sync with his smart home pod so he can say: “Siri, turn off the fan” or “Siri, turn off the Christmas tree lights” without leaving his perch.

+TRACKSMITH BASE LAYER. I have this exact style for running and it is THE BEST in cool weather. It somehow insulates but is also breathable? Mr. Magpie is not a runner but was thinking this would still be nice for outdoor activities — even walking the dog on chilly mornings. Love the colors it comes in, too.

+NIKE DRI FIT TENNIS SHORTS. Mr. Magpie’s favorite pair.

+OXO LAPTOP CLEANER. I’ll do a separate post on stocking stuffers, but this was too good not to include, especially if you’re gifting your man a piece of technology (iPad, the laptop stand above, etc).

+LEAF SCOOPS. Another good stocking stuffer. Mr. Magpie was thrilled when he discovered these little leaf gathering tools earlier this year. Great for the man who runs a tight ship in his front yard game.

+CUCKOO RICE COOKER. You’ll know if you’re a family that will value this tool. We use it constantly — probably once or twice a week — and this one is the BMW of rice cookers. We own this exact model and it makes the most delicious, fluffy rice with the press of a button.

Not seen above, but a few other fantastic buys…

MARINE LAYER CLAYTON PULLOVER — I LOVE THE WAY THIS IS STYLED ON TNUCK

MAGNETIC KNIFE RACK — MR. MAGPIE HAS ALWAYS WANTED ONE OF THESE…FUNCTIONAL AND MORE SANITARY THAN A KNIFE BLOCK

EERO WIFI EXTENDER — I THINK THIS WAS ON MY LIST LAST YEAR, BUT FOR ANY MAN WHO CONSISTENTLY COMPLAINS ABOUT THE WIFI SIGNAL…YOU’RE WELCOME! YOU WILL TOTALLY IMPRESS HIM WITH THIS

HEDLEY & BENNETT APRON — BOUGHT MR. MAGPIE ONE OF THESE LAST YEAR AND HE NEVER COOKS WITHOUT IT…THIS IS THE BRAND ENDORSED BY MICHELIN STARRED CHEFS

TRAVEL UNDERGARMENTS BAG — FOR THE ROAD WARRIOR

RIMOWA ROLL-A-BOARD — IF WE TRAVELED ENOUGH TO LEGITIMIZE, WOULD BUY HIM ONE OF THESE

RED CLAY HOT SAUCE TRIO — ANOTHER CROWD PLEASER

OYSTER SHELL BELT BUCKLE

LEATHER CAR CARE SET — MR. MAGPIE BOUGHT THIS FOR OUR NEW CAR

ARAN KNIT SWEATER — AN ABSOLUTE CLASSIC

KULE RUGBY SHIRT — ALREADY BOUGHT MR. MAGPIE THIS

LEATHER DOPP KIT — IN CASE HE NEEDS AN UPGRADE FROM THE GALLON ZIPLOC HE USUALLY USES

MAUVIEL SAUCEPAN FOR HIS COLLECTION — MORE COPPER KITCHENWARE AND ACCESSORIES HERE

HAWS WATERING CAN — FINALLY BACK IN STOCK

BARBOUR QUILTED VEST — EVERY MAN LOOKS SPORTING IN THIS

GARDENING SNIPS

You might also find inspiration in this post on gifts that was geared more towards women!

P.S. On finding “an easy kind of love.”

P.P.S. On my poor behavior the summer before Mr. Magpie proposed to me. (Gulp.)

P.P.P.S. Holiday finds — don’t miss the Target stuff!

By: Jen Shoop

Q: Classic but tastefully on trend looks for my mom. 60ish. Age-appropriate but fresh.

A: This is such a thoughtful query — I love it. I feel like shirtdresses are my answer to everything, but they are en vogue right now and suitable for any age. I would look for ones in on-trend patterns or textures (i.e., blockprint or corduroy), are a midi- or maxi-length (versus knee-length), and/or have on-trend details like tiers or puffed sleeves to keep the look “fresh.”

JULIA AMORY

MILLE

DAPHNE WILDE

DAYDRESS

VERONICA BEARD

DVF

BANANA REPUBLIC

WOLF & BADGER

BODEN

CE FINN

LELA ROSE

MIRTH

TORY BURCH

RALPH LAUREN

These can be paired with suede booties (also love and own these), drivers, mules, or ballets, or something wilder, like a shearling flat.

For more casual wear, I’d look at ankle-length straight-leg jeans or cords (also like these in the olive) or even velvet pants and encourage her to have fun with the top — love interesting shapes like this, this, this, this, or this.

Last — I always feel like older women look fantastic in dramatic coats, like this ivory one or this wrap style. They have the gravitas to pull it off!

Q: Casual clothes that still look put together for school drop off.

A: I shared some “dressed up” athleisure looks here that might be what you’re after — otherwise, I have been finding it super easy to pair my favorite shirtdresses/midi dresses (many by the brands listed above) with my flats from Chanel, Vibi Venezia, and Talbots. I have five or six dresses I have been wearing at least once a week the last few weeks I feel like. Another easy formula is exhibited beautifully by the chic pea at the top — invest in a few pairs of comfortable, on-trend pants — think wide-leg crop jeans — and then pairing with basic white tees and your favorite flats. Go with basic colors — black, brown, white, navy — and just mix and match. Last but not least, one sneaky workaround is to buy a statement coat you love and a pair of trendy flats or boots (look for less with these) and a smart crossbody — in the winter, you’ll rarely be seen sans coat! All of those pieces can be worn over your secret daily uniform of Lululemon leggings and sweatshirts or Kule turtlenecks with no problem!

Q: Statement blouse for fall, under $100.

A: This floral, this Mango, this Hill House (or this jeweled one!!!), this Target. This Cinq a Sept is $117 and SO good.

Q: Late fall to holiday dress that is friendly for an 8 month baby bump.

A: Congrats, mama! I would say this Rachel Pally in the oxblood color, this Hill House tartan nap dress, this plaid mini, and/or this basic black dress. I swear I lived in a black dress similar to that and wore it to every single imaginable occasion — black basic dress can be dressed up with velvet mules and sparkly earrings or dressed down with sneakers.

Q: Chic winter wear — scarves, hats, gloves.

A: I love a statement glove. (In fact, when I studied abroad, I purchased a beautiful pair from a small leather boutique in Venice that were pale pink with elegant dot detailing on the topside.) A few current favorites: Gucci gloves ($$$), Surell, more Gucci, Barbour, Marcus Adler (under $20), Ugg, and cableknit cashmere RL. For hats, I love these Acne ones — such great colors! — and this customizable Ralph Lauren one (love with the athletic letter in front) and have always been a sucker for earmuffs (I don’t know why no one is making them anymore — you can still score some of those adorable Burberry ones gently used). For scarves, I love this colorblocked Boden, a classic cashmere, an oversized ACNE, this ACNE-inspired Zara, Barbour-esque plaid from MANGO, an actual Barbour.

Last but not least, this bejeweled beanie and gloves set brings me joy!

Q: Low heel boots!

A: High-end picks: Isabel Marant Dernee, Alexandre Birman Kittie, and Paris Texas snakeskins (I own both of the last two pairs). More reasonable and more versatile: Talbots Iona and J. Crew. Casual: No 6.

Q: Black tie dress for a December event. No sleeveless or strapless, please!

A: Oo la la! I would consider this Reformation, this Rotate Birger Christensen, this Saloni, this Azeeza, this Giambattista Valli, this Monique L’Huillier, or this Veronica Beard (ooooo la la!!!!).

Q: Fall shoes.

A: I shared a bunch of my favorite fall footwear finds here, but have been totally living in these furlanes and these drivers on an everyday basis.

Q: The perfect fall jeans — modern yet classic, not trendy.

A: Hm – I think you might be a home in Levi’s or Agoldes in a mid wash. These brands feel relevant and fresh but the styles have been around for a long time.

Q: African safari outfits that I can repurpose.

A: Wow — trip of a lifetime! I would turn to my girlfriend Mackenzie, who went on a safari on her honeymoon, or do a deep dive in Bradley Agather’s Instagram (I know she’s been on a safari in the past and always looks impeccable) for inspo. I do think proper footwear is a must, and I’ve wanted Danner boots with the red laces forever. These Sorels are also cool. Both are chic enough to repurpose back home in cold weather! I would also prioritize a good field jacket — J. Crew always has fabulous ones at reasonable prices and you can for sure wear these back home!

Q: Affordable but classy everyday bag.

A: Around the $200 mark, I love this Clare Vivier, this Muun (for winter), this small Paravel, and this Loewe-esque Club Monaco.

Q: Simple, round glass lamp for bedside table, under $75.

A: I like this one, which reminds me of a much higher-end style. More chic lighting here!

Q: Christmas gifts for hard-to-get couple.

A: Unusual food/gourmet gifts go a long way with this crowd (see some ideas here) — maybe some oysters and a few oyster knives? I also personally adore (am obsessed with) the champagne coupes I bought last year. I use them constantly, for cocktails or a weeknight glass of cava. These are so pretty. Bundle with a bottle of champagne. Or maybe buy them a personalized tote (love this holiday tartan one) and fill with your favorite fancy snacks — truffle chips, bottle of lambrusco, pimento cheese dip, etc.

Q: 3/4 sleeve shirts.

A: Love the fit of this top, and then a lot of breton stripe tees are meant to hit at 3/4 length, including this chic striped J. Crew one!

By: Jen Shoop

Tis sweater season! Today, I’m sharing all of my favorite knits, all under $150. The MVP of this post is this J. Crew cardigan, which will be so versatile — layer over winter nap dresses, pair with a slip skirt, or throw on with jeans. A few others I adore:

J. CREW // ALEX MILL // EVERLANE // MANGO FAIR ISLE // TARGET // GAP // MANGO WITH FLORAL TRIM // MINT GREEN MANGO // ZARA // MANGO VEST // MADEWELL

These and even more options below…

THIS FAIR ISLE TURTLENECK

ADORE THE DETAILS ON THIS TARGET SCORE — HIGH COLLAR, SLIGHT PUFF SLEEVE, INTERESTING DETAIL! — I ACTUALLY THINK THE PINK MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE…V ULLA J!

THIS CHUNKY KNIT WITH JEWEL BUTTONS

MY BELOVED STRIPED LA LIGNE (ON SALE FOR $115) — SO SOFT AND I LOVE THE COLORS

$25 ROLLNECK

THIS CHUNKY KNIT WITH LIBERTY TRIM

SLIM-FIT ROLLNECK TURTLENECK — I’M ALWAYS SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH MILEAGE I GET OUT OF TURTLENECKS IN THIS SILHOUETTE; GREAT FOR TUCKING INTO WINTER SKIRTS OR PAIRING WITH WIDE-LEG TROUSERS

HAVE BEEN GETTING SO MUCH USE OUT OF A FAIR ISLE CREW SIMILAR TO THIS THIS SEASON

CLASSIC CREWNECK IN A FAB GARTER STITCH

THIS HEATHERED CARDIGAN COMES IN GREAT AND SLIGHTLY UNUSUAL COLORS

THIS CASHMERE POLO (I LOVEEE)

THIS NAVY TRIM CARDIGAN JACKET IS CLASSIC AND MODERN AT THE SAME TIME

THIS CABLEKNIT IN THE IVORY WILL GO WITH EVERYTHING

YOU CAN’T GO WRONG WITH AN IVORY ARAN KNIT — I LIKE TO SIZE UP AND WEAR SLIGHTLY OVERSIZED!

OF COURSE I HAD TO HAVE THIS PEARL-BUTTONED CARDIGAN

ORDERED THIS $37 STEAL IN THE NAVY

THIS SLOUCHY ROLLNECK STRIPE IS IN MY CART

THIS EXAGGERATED COLLAR CARDI

THIS PRETTY POINTELLE

THIS CHUNKY EMBROIDERED/PEARL-DETAILED STYLE IN MINT GREEN

HIGH-COLLAR BUTTON-FRONT STUNNER

FAIR ISLE VEST

And at the high-end of the price spectrum, a few knits I’m lusting after…

A PERSONALIZED LE LION

EMBROIDERED ALICE AND OLIVIA

FAIR ISLE FROM THE GREAT OR FRANCES VALENTINE

BOW-SIDED MAISON MARGIELA

BOW-FRONT ALICE + OLIVIA (PERFECT FOR OVER HOLIDAY DRESS)

CABLEKNIT SHRIMPS IN PERFECT MID-BLUE

KILTE RUTHIE CARDIGAN

PEPLUM LANVIN

As an aside, several of the knits I shared above are a part of Mango’s mid-season sale (30% off). I shared my favorite finds from the promotion here.

P.S. The comments on this post were so interesting. Did you know some people have no “internal voice”?

P.P.S. Chocolate brown finds.

P.P.P.S. Get me into one of these French kitchens.

By: Jen Shoop

The other day, I had the other-worldly experience of stumbling upon a recording of myself pitching my technology business at a start-up event in Chicago several years ago. I had my entire spiel down. I could pitch my business in my sleep, and it was studded with the start-up patois of the time — “on-demand,” “real-time,” “micro-feedback,” “lightweight,” “cloud-based,” etc. I was so accustomed to answering customer and investor questions that sometimes I felt as though I was floating above my own body, listening to myself speak with conviction the same rehearsed lines to the same common questions, and I would simultaneously be wondering or worrying about something else — what were we going to do about the bug in the latest release? I really need to close that account!

It was not always that way, with the phrases sanded down smooth as glass.

The start of it all is physically painful to remember, gritty and uneven as it was. Telling friends and family that we were leaving our well-regarded, salaried jobs to pursue something entirely different left me gray with nerves. I didn’t yet have the words to explain what we were doing succinctly, or with eloquence, or with the passion I later learned to project. I would stammer. My first few pitches were loose and messy, javelins flung blindly.

Over time, the operation tightened. I learned to anticipate and often pre-empt questions and, later, objections. I became more sophisticated in understanding what would resonate with each stakeholder in a given pitch — that is, we had our investor pitch, our customer pitch, our generic start-up pitch, and then within each stakeholder category, there were further striations. In the customer category, we had a pitch for executives, a pitch for HR people, a pitch for end users, and we had strong opinions on who we’d prefer to pitch to from the lens of whether we would be able to close the account. We even further honed the customer pitch by industry, hitting on different elements when presenting ourselves to small businesses vs. non-profits vs. start-ups vs. enterprise-level organizations. It was like plucking chords on a guitar. I’d assess the audience and set myself up in the right key.

At some point during this period, a college friend of ours visited and we brought him with us to 1871, the co-working space from which we ran our company. He had business to tend to that morning and so did we. I remember heading into that work session with something like dread that, as we passed through the turnstiles, began to rust into steely determination. I was anxious about him overhearing me in my presentation to a new potential customer. It felt like a high-stakes performance. Here was my opportunity to prove to someone close to us, who may have doubted our ambition, that we were serious business people! That we were out there, selling meaningful solutions to real businesses! In some ways, he was a stand-in for the critics I imagined snickering at us behind our backs.

I know now that no one was snickering. Or — I doubt very much that anyone was. Or — if they were, I forgive or dismiss or ignore that naysaying because there was nothing laughable about the effort we put in. No, the discomfort and defensiveness was born and bred by yours truly. I was on an imaginary tightrope I’d conjured entirely myself.

I took a deep breath and jumped on the call and nailed the pitch. I knew my friend was in earshot the entire time, and I could tell he was eavesdropping. But when I was done, he said nothing, and neither did I, and the day unfolded and eventually we dismissed ourselves for happy hour drinks, at which point he said, “You were awesome today. I listened to you. I’m so impressed.”

It felt lovely, to earn that imprimatur. But I was startled by the fact that I already knew I’d earned it, even without him ever saying anything, or letting on that he cared. I realized that when I’d shut my laptop earlier that day, I’d assessed myself and emerged satisfied.

I guess I’ve been thinking a lot about beginnings and endings and renewals this year. About how even as I have moved towards more and more stability in every category of my life over the past few years, how many times I have also started again. How often I have looked, bare-faced, at myself and found myself wanting or — put more gently — in development. How often I have seen myself as a novitiate, even in things I have done before, like becoming a parent for the second time, or renting a second apartment in NYC, or buying a house for the second time, or running a business for the second time. Some stuff sticks. I find myself better equipped to identify bad actors and shady opportunities, for example, or perhaps just more willing to trust my instinct. As a result, I am far less likely to be taken advantage of. Perhaps I was more inclined to intellectualize my way out of spot-on intuitions the first go around, more prone to say, for example, “This agent feels weird to me, and I can’t put my finger on why, but…he must be good! He works for a reputable firm!” The second time around: “Something is off, let’s cut bait.” Ditto in parenting matters. I am far more likely to advocate for my children now if I think something is off, first opinion be damned.

In some ways, the principal gift of experience is realizing how little you actually know and how much you must rely on gut feel to make your way through. And that humility is a good thing. I often tell Mr. Magpie that the older I get, the less I know for sure, and I think that makes me circumspect about my own perspectives in a positive way.

So just a line out there, for any of my Magpies at the start of something, in the throes of self-transformation, feeling insecure or uncertain or overwhelmed: there will be a day where you will find yourself in a groove, where the words will tumble out easily, or where you will simply realize that you’re doing your best and that it is enough. And there will be another day where you find yourself back at the start of the path, in slow and steady ascent. Hang in there. The only way out is through.

Post-Scripts.

+On the imagined criticism we all carry with us.

+On failure more generally.

+You are enough!

+On realizing it’s OK to lower expectations.

+”Never grow a wishbone where a backbone ought to be.”

+“Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.“

+It’s never too late to begin again.

+The sense of an ending.

Shopping Break.

+This mini dress is currently in my cart. J’adore! With tall black boots?!

+When I first started working, I saved up for a DVF wrap dress and then bought several over the course of my more professional tenure. They are still in my closet and I bring them out every season. Timeless, flattering, ageless! Outnet has one of them on sale in a fantastic fall print here. Boss lady vibes!

+This Clara nightgown for a little lady!!!

+This shearling trim puffer is currently 20% off and I’m super tempted.

+Reformation is killing it at the moment. Major Khaite vibes for under $200. (And don’t forget this knockout dress!)

+These rain boots are super chic.

+Just bought Tilly some new dog shampoo. Didn’t know Ouai catered to our furry friends!

+Speaking of Ouai, I still swear by their texturizing spray if you do a beachy wave. My hair is on the longer side right now (getting it cut on Friday!), and I’ve been wearing it in loose waves a lot lately. That means I’ve been taking a temporary break from my beloved one-step and instead washing my hair at night, letting it air-dry as I sleep, and then curling with my Hot Tools 3/4″ curling iron before finishing with the Ouai spray. It really works so well!

+Fantastic toddler Target find – love a shawl collar on a little boy!

+My girlfriend works at Marc Jacobs and is bringing me this ultra-chic crossbody when she visits from New York this weekend! ZOMG. Will be wearing all fall.

+This Ulla dress would be so chic with tall boots — and currently 50% off!

+Such fun water glasses for a holiday table.

+Mango is offering 30% off a bunch of their fall pieces — top picks are this SEA lookalike and virtually all of their on-trend knitwear, including this fair isle and this herringbone vest.

+I have a fair isle sweater from years and years ago similar to this under-$50 score that I have been wearing a TON this season — usually just tying around my shoulders for a little pop of pattern! Looks so cute against olive green in particular.

+Isabel Marant shacket vibes for about half the price.

+Clever collapsible silicon coffee cup — stocking stuffer for a busy traveler?

+This $59 blouse is serving up major Doen vibes.

+Speaking of Doen — wow.

+Just bought Mr. Magpie this rugby shirt.

+Still a few of these Ganni-inspired quilted coats available ($40!)

+Handsome herringbone blazer to pair with jeans.

+Chic tortoise hair clip!

+These suede boots are fantastic + versatile.

+These heart earrings are so chic and nostalgia-inducing for some reason. It reminds me of my beloved Elizabeth Coda Callen locket book. (Did anyone else collect those books?)

+These flats are absurdly fun. Sort of like a printed version of my velvet furlanes.

By: Jen Shoop

*This post is not sponsored by Pam Munson but she did gift me the bag seen above, and I have to say I am one of her biggest fans. I wrote about her as a Woman of Substance years ago, and then had occasion to cross paths with her while living in New York, and she is The Real Article: elegant, bright, compassionate, hard-working, kind. I love supporting women entrepreneurs like her.

I have been wearing a lot of gingham pieces this fall season — I love that this print can transition so easily from summer to fall with the right accessories! — and was absolutely floored when the talented Pam gifted me her gorgeous Gardner tote in blue gingham. I immediately trotted it out with my tiered gingham maxi skirt (few sizes left, but very similar here and here), a tissue turtleneck, my go-to navy drivers, and this gray sweater over my shoulders (seen above). I wish I’d had this dramatic SEA cardigan in navy instead to throw over my shoulders, but I ordered it and it was just way too big on my frame. Below, some additional styling options that jumped out at me…

styling the pam munson gingham gardner bag for fall

SEA DRESS // LE MONDE BERYL MARY JANES // PAM MUNSON GINGHAM TOTE // SEA CARDI // TURTLENECK // GAP SKIRT // J. CREW CARDIGAN // AGOLDE JEANS // SHERPA CLOGS // BYTIMO BLOUSE // CORDS (UNDER $100) // PUMPS (ON SALE!)

I also immediately imagined pairing the bag with a copper-toned dress like this or this or this and some velvet flats in a similar color like these or these, and maybe a cableknit cardigan on top, finished with a leather headband to tie in with the leather trim of the bag.

And of course it would look fabulous with jeans — I have been wearing these Agoldes a lot lately — and imagine with this pearl sweater and clog boots or sherpa clogs or brown suede pumps (which are currently in my cart). I have been contemplating purchasing a knit gilet/vest like this or this to layer over white blouses like this, finished with cords…the gingham bag would add just the right amount of interest/pattern to the look!

A few other gingham pieces I love for fall…

gingham finds fall 2021

J. CREW CARDIGAN // ETSY HEADBAND (UNDER $10) // SEA BLOUSE // FAITHFULL GINGHAM MIDI // MADEWELL DRESS // KNIT VEST // MANGO DRESS // MARGAUX MULES // TURTLENECK // GAP SKIRT // TOTE // PUMPS // KITRI BLOUSE // GAP BLOUSE // FAUX LEATHER HEADBAND

THIS GAP BLOUSE (OR THIS SIMILAR VELVET OR EMERSON FRY)

THIS MADEWELL

THIS DOEN, WHICH I OWN IN RED — SOLD OUT IN THAT COLOR, BUT STILL AVAIL IN BLUE AND MARIGOLD!

THIS BYTIMO DRESS (VIBE FOR LESS WITH THIS)

THIS PUFF-SLEEVED BEAUTY WOULD ABSOLUTELY WORK WITH A CREAM CABLEKNIT CARDIGAN AND SUEDE BOOTS

THIS SAGE GREEN GINGHAM MIDI

THIS EMBROIDERED COLLAR BLOUSE

THIS MANGO SCORE

THIS UNDER-$20 RUFFLE BLOUSE

THIS IS A BIG STATEMENT FOR UNDER $100 BUT COULD BE TRES CHIC

THIS PADDED HEADBAND (UNDER $10)

THIS KITRI BLOUSE

P.S. Two color trends I love this season: chocolate and burgundy.

P.P.S. Do you negotiate?

P.P.P.S. How do you make friends in a new city?

By: Jen Shoop

A few weeks ago, we hosted an old family friend at our home. Amidst playful jabs and walks down memory lane, he asked after Mr. Magpie’s family, and Mr. Magpie — who typically tends toward the taciturn on family matters — shared that his aunt had been unwell for some time and that his mother had been tending to her with the kind of selflessness only possible in a saint or a sister. Our friend was rummaging through his pockets as his listened. I sat on tenter-hooks. It was so unlike Mr. Magpie to open up like this, and I worried his candor would be permanently shunted in the shadow of this apparent indifference. But our friend retrieved a small pad of paper and a pen.

“What’s her name?” he asked. Mr. Magpie blinked. “I’ve made it a habit of praying for people by name.”

I think often of the fact that the nuns of the Visitation have prayed for me since my birth. Not necessarily by name, but as a future, then current, then former student of their school. I think also of the intercessions read out in Churches across the globe every single day at Mass. Often, without our ever knowing it, we are included in those supplications, as congregations routinely pray in aggregate for those in any kind of need, whether those in grief, those struggling with addiction or mental illness, those caring for loved ones, those alone or forsaken, those in a rough spot of any kind.

Neither of us could answer our friend for a beat. We were overwhelmed by the gesture, by the goodness. I feel the same way when I realize that there are absolute strangers praying for my well-being on any given Sunday. I was thinking of this the other day as I talked to my sister, who is navigating (beautifully!) the first few weeks of motherhood. I was remembering how, sometimes out of nowhere, amidst a day of postpartum exhaustion and nerves and emotion, a wave of calm would wash over me. I would be looking at mini, then micro, and I would think: “This is all I need. I want for nothing. Sleep will come. I am OK. I am OK!” At the time, I attributed these swells of tranquility to motherhood in the sense that I thought to myself, “Ah, here is that motherly instinct kicking in. I’m in a good place, doing what is natural. All the noise and nerves are quiet. Mother and child, as it should be, as it has been since the dawn of time.” I distinctly remember those thoughts because I took the picture above while experiencing them exactly seven days after my son was born so that I would never forget. The other day, as I spoke with my sister, I was hoping that she would experience those same pockets of peace looking at her own baby, because it is a lot being a new mom. It feels like being asked to perform a complicated athletic feat while injured and simultaneously calculating complex math equations with numbers that constantly change — and all the while, your entire emotional world is upside-down. But it occurred to me then that maybe those lifts I experienced during those bleary and beautiful early days of parenthood were prayer. A shopkeeper in Barcelona, a farmer in Cajamarca, or a businesswoman in Nyanza might have prayed “for new moms everywhere” at that moment, and across the globe, I pocketed that energy.

Every morning, my mother, sister, and I participate in a digital prayer group. If you have a loved one who is a new or expecting mom, know I’ll be thinking of her during our virtual daily prayer this week. If you’re so inclined, email me or leave a comment with her name — I was so moved by my friend’s insistence on this matter that I am compelled to do the same.

Post-Scripts.

+On being “bad” at prayer.

+How do you start your day? (Do you start with prayer?)

+On the significance of the Hail Mary to me.

+On motherhood.

+Practical advice on preparing for a second child.

+9 things that surprised me about having a c-section.

+How to build a layette for a newborn.

Shopping Break.

+Our carseat was just restocked in the popular gray color. These can be strangely hard to find/on back-order. The main thing I will tell you: you can throw the entire carseat cushion into the washing machine. I was sold when I discovered that. (Mini is prone to carsickness.). I also love the sleek styling. We got ours in solid black (one for each child) and it looks fantastic with the black interior of our SUV.

+If you need to do 3 carseats across — well, first, God bless you — but second, people rave about these Cleks. Narrow enough to fit three across and I think I might prefer the styling to the Nuna. So chic! (However, in my case, function trumped fashion — I just needed something washable.)

+For travel or if you need an extra car seat for grandparents/caregiver use on occasion, these inexpensive travel carseats are AMAZING. They get really good reviews for safety but are extremely lightweight and therefore easy to carry through an airport. We have two.

+These adorable and reasonably-priced earrings are back in stock. The pink are SO good.

+More great velvet hairbows for you or your little one in the best fall colors.

+Still obsessed with this wreath.

+I am seriously contemplating a silk slip skirt ATM to pair with cashmere crewnecks. I have heard good things about the ones from Vince, but I love the colors from L’Agence (some of which are on sale — that gold color would be so, so chic for holidays) and the pricepoint at Madewell.

+I feel like I’ve been seeing a lot of feather clutches out there this holiday season. This one is reasonably priced! So chic with one of the silk slip skirts above and a cashmere sweater for a night out.

+Drinking coffee out of these beautiful mugs would bring me such joy. Another possible candidate for a “collector” type gift recipient.

+My son recently wore a plaid fair isle vest (from Ralph Lauren, no longer available) and it was absolutely adorable. This one is super similar. I layered it over this RL oxford in white and paired with these green cords and his beloved yellow rain boots.

+More of his exact fall wardrobe here, but I neglected to mention I am about to buy him some boots for winter, and I think I am going with classic Sperry Saltwaters in navy/brown. These look adorable paired with any outfit, in any fall/winter weather (not just snow/rain), including the everyday overalls looks I shared here.

+I’m thinking this ribbed tube scarf is amazing, especially for my Chicago/Boston Magpies. Layer underneath your puffer. Chic and functional, too!

+This illuminating primer is in my cart. I love this brand’s clear (literally, no tint) highlighter for adding a little “glow” on cheeks, brow bone, cupid’s bow, etc.

+Personalized roadie cups. Fun for a big birthday celebration/weekend getaway/etc.

+This plaid dress is nearly out of stock but SO adorable for a fall festivity.

+Just a reminder that this dress exists. (!!!!). My top rec for a winter wedding.

+This maxi skirt sold out in like one day last time it was released. Absolutely gorgeous with a white blouse, denim button-down, sweater, etc. I am so into the maxi skirt at the moment!

+This boat tote with plaid lettering is ADORABLE. I’m thinking through my gift list — would be a good gift for a family with small children, or a newlywed, or as a dramatic “wrap” for some holiday treats (i.e., fill with wine, tin of popcorn, etc.)

+I know I’ve mentioned this dress before, but I keep coming back to it. I need it. It is so saucy and chic.

+Cute Christmas-themed Peter Pan collar top for a little man.

+Sweet shawl-collared sweater for a baby boy (on sale!)

+Fun smocked and embroidered dress.

By: Jen Shoop

*Above, mini enjoys her Maileg dollhouse last Christmas morning. Micro’s Baghera ride-on car is at her left. Both fabulous big ticket items for littles!

The number one most-requested gift guide for this year was gifts for young children. I will be publishing a separate guide on gifts for babies next week, but this one is more oriented towards children aged 2-6.

I am going to try to buy my children’s gifts within the next two weeks because of all this gloom and doom around shipping times and supply chain issues. (There was an interesting article along these lines in the WSJ.) We usually aim to give each of our children a big toy, something artsy/musical, something STEM/building-oriented, something sporty/outdoorsy, and something they can play with together. The collage below is a mix of some favorites, but I’ve organized these and many more by category below…

The-Fashion-Magpie-Children-Gift-Guide-Holiday-2021

BATTERY-POWERED RIDE-ON CAR // CREATOR CAMERA // ANIMAL BOOK // IIMO BALANCE BIKE // MAGNA TAB // MAGNATILES // SHADOW THEATRE SET // DOMINOES // STEIFF TEDDY // PAPER DOLLS SET // MAILEG MICE SET // DINO PIGGY BANK // COLOR CHANGING UMBRELLA // BUG STAMPS // RATTAN WAGON

Big Ticket Items.

My top picks for “big toys” this year are:

A TEAMSON PLAY KITCHEN

A KIDKRAFT DOUBLE SIDED EASEL

BATTERY-POWERED RIDE-ON CAR (OMG I WANTED ONE OF THESE SO BADLY GROWING UP)

NOD CHAIR (TEMPTED TO BUY ONE FOR EACH OF MY CHILDREN TO CREATE A READING NOOK IN OUR PLAY ROOM, OR ALSO A SPOT FOR THEM TO SIT WHILE WATCHING MOVIES)

RATTAN WAGON (SO SWEET FOR A GIRL) OR CLASSIC RADIO FLYER WAGON

SCHLEICH SAFARI SET — MY SON IS OBSESSED WITH LITTLE ANIMAL FIGURINES AND HAS A BUNCH BY THIS BRAND; THEY ARE SO DETAILED AND ACCURATE! HE WILL FLIP OVER A SET LIKE THIS

RACECAR SLEEPING BAG

A few other “big ticket item” thoughts:

+Mini and micro received bikes this summer from their grandparents, or those would be top of mind. Micro received an Iimo balance bike, which is just the most stylish bike I’ve ever seen, and my parents-in-law originally ordered mini a Banwood but it was backordered for months at the time (but is now available, though in low stock!), so they instead canceled that order and bought her a Retrospec, which sadly appears to be currently backordered. Banwoods are super similar and super cute. A bike deserves a good helmet — micro got this Banwood one with the racer stripes down the top and mini got a ladybug style, at her request. Also love this classic red Radio Flyer one!

+Another option in this vein would be a Baghera trike. I just adore the styling. Radio Flyer has a similar (beautiful!) one for about half the price.

+Related, we gave micro a Baghera ride-on car for his first birthday, and it’s the most beautiful toy. I just love to see it out! The children do ride on it and play with it frequently, though I will say it’s not a fast-moving toy. It takes a lot of leg effort to keep it in motion!

+My MIL bought the children (for this year, already purchased!) a pop-up playhouse. This is why I’m leaning towards the play kitchen — my children LOVE to play restaurant, house, etc., and are constantly playing with imaginary food. (Go figure — Mr. Magpie and I are always cooking!). I think it will be fun to put the kitchen behind the play cafe. I will supplement with some play food!

+Liewood rocking horse. I regret not buying a rocking horse when my children were younger — I think they might be a tiny bit past the ideal age range now. These wood ones are just so gorgeous! This Etsy shop also has some beautiful ones.

+We gave mini the Maileg dollhouse last year and continue to give her new Maileg accessories/mice at each birthday/Christmas. The house is so beautifully made and has the sweetest details.

+This tent has also been a hit for awhile now. Fun for the kids to play inside of and so adorable in a playroom.

+Dragon stuffed animal. We want to buy micro some new stuffed animals — mini has stolen nearly all of his. I love the oversized dragon, but this smaller dragon or this adorable sheep or even just a classic Steiff teddy might get more cuddles.

Art/Musical Gifts.

THIS SING-A-LONG TOY HAS BEEN SUCH A LONG-LIVED HIT AT HOME — MINI LOVES RECORDING HER VOICE! — BUT THIS FISHER PRICE HEARKENS BACK TO THE ONE I HAD AS A CHILD

ALTERNATELY, THIS MODERN ONE COMPLETELY DISPENSES OF THE VESTIGE OF “TAPE RECORDING”

VILAC PIANO

SHADOW THEATRE SET

OOLY ART PORTFOLIO AND MARKERS

A KIDKRAFT DOUBLE SIDED EASEL (MENTIONED ABOVE)

EASEL COMPANION SET AND SMOCK

STEM/Building Gifts.

THESE ANIMAL AND/OR DINOSAUR BOOKS* ARE SO GORGEOUS — I THINK I’M GOING TO GIVE THEM TO MY NEPHEWS ALONG WITH THESE COOL STAMPS IN SEALIFE OR BUG PATTERNS

LINCOLN LOGS

LEGOS

VTECH KIDDIE ZOOM CREATOR CAMERA OR DIGITAL CAMERA

RAVELL MODEL CAR KITS (MR. MAGPIE LOVED DOING THESE WITH HIS DAD — HAVE GIVEN TO A FEW BOYS AROUND THE AGE OF 6 AND ALWAYS A BIG HIT)

MAGNATILES

JUMBO PUZZLE

*My sister gave my children an animal encyclopedia for Christmas last year and it was SUCH A FANTASTIC GIFT. We got into a habit where I’d read mini 2-3 pages each night before bed in lieu of a bedtime story. We went through the book at least twice! My son would love to point out all the animals, too. So — this could be a good gift for children as young as two!

Sport/Play/Outdoor Gifts.

THIS WOODEN PUTTING SET

BALL PIT

HOOLA HOOP SET

WOODEN BALANCE BEAM SET

COSTWAY 3-IN-1 SPORT SET

Gifts for Playing Together.

Several of the gifts in the big ticket item and sport categories scratch this itch, but a few other items for multiple children:

DOMINOES

TWISTER

ROLLING CART (EXACT ONE WE USE FOR THIS PURPOSE) FILLED WITH DUPLOS OR BLOCKS

BOWLING SET

Under-$30 Gifts.

TIMEX WATCH

NAME-TRACING CHALKBOARD

MAGNA TAB

TRANSFORMER (DEFINITELY BUYING ONE OR TWO OF THESE FOR MICRO)

DINO PIGGY BANK

MAGNATILES

COLOR-CHANGING UMBRELLA

DOMINOES

SPELLBOUND PLAYBOX (MY DAUGHTER WOULD LOVE THIS)

SQUIGZ SET

BUG STAMPS

CALICO CRITTERS

SCHLEICH HELICOPTER TOY SET

DINO CRAYONS

OOLY ART PORTFOLIO AND MARKERS

PAPER DOLLS SET

AQUABEADS SET

P.S. More great toys here and here.

P.P.S. Some great children’s books (even more here) that would make lovely gifts — I always supplement my children’s gifts with a few new books!

P.P.P.S. More holiday ideas here.

By: Jen Shoop


My Latest Snag: Hill House Velvet Dress.

I snagged one of Hill House’s new Jasmine velvet nap dresses and am going to wear it to Thanksgiving — WHEE! They still have a bunch of the velvet Ellies left in case you’re still in the market. More thoughts on what to wear to Thanksgiving here. Based on DMs and emails from a lot of you, I think many of us will be wearing either Hill House tartan or velvet or this chic tiered cord dress (I own in figgy pudding) for the occasion.

You’re Soooo Popular: Le Clog Boot.

The most popular items on le blog this week:

the fashion magpie best sellers

+Target clog boots — super similar to my beloved No. 6 boots.

+Veronica Beard maxi (swoon).

+Cord baby romper.

+J. Crew half-zip sweater.

+Amazon turtleneck!

+Osh Kosh overalls.

+Floral exaggerated collar blouse (under $100!)

+Wide-leg corduroys.

+Bee door knocker.

+Hill House Caroline nap dress.

+Personalized, laminated placemat.

+Vibi Venezia slippers.

+Fountain pen.

+Little English car sweater.

+Mock-neck sweater.

+Striped turtleneck for mini.

+Ruffle blouse.

Weekend Musings: The Beginning.

I read the first few pages of Louis L’Amour’s Lonely on the Mountain the other day, and the opening line is a knock-out:

“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.”

Even without context, the line rings true. I thought immediately of how I paced back and forth in anxiety waiting to hear whether the offer on our house was accepted last May. I was so nervous, I left the apartment to run errands and I remember walking a stretch of Columbus between 87th and 88th Streets on my way to the Trader Joe’s praying to Mary and promising that I’d want for nothing if we could just have this offer accepted. It sounds absurd, even frivolous, now, but we had been down to look for houses nearly every Friday for six weeks and our entire world seemed to be spinning along an axis defined by the real estate market in Washington, D.C. It was all we talked about. Our parents were generously and deeply involved, scouting houses and taking inspectors by properties and the whole nine yards, and so much of the logistics of our lives hung on whether this particular offer would be accepted. We had the sense that we were running out of time — April, May, June were peak selling months, and if we didn’t find anything then, it’d be unlikely we’d find anything that summer. I was beginning to fret about whether we should start looking at rentals instead? Or defer the move an entire year? But what to do about the school spots we’d declined in NYC and the ones we’d accepted in DC? Anyhow, I had the feeling that day that if we could just mount this crest, we’d be home free. We would have no plans to move from that house for — possibly forever. We’d finally settle in somewhere for the long haul. The rest was details.

Thankfully, our offer was accepted, but that milestone proved to be the start of a marathon we’re still running. We are happily settled here now, but it seems absurd that I had thought getting the house would be the final hurdle. There have been months and months of endless admin and follow-through. L’Amour was right: the “finish line” I saw was just the beginning.

There are other applications of this phrase, too, that readily spring to mind, especially in the arenas of work and parenting. In both cases, every new “leveling up” has coincided with a cascade of new concerns, considerations, complexities. Mr. Magpie and I keep lying to ourselves by talking about some vague future state “when things calm down,” by which I think we mean — when we will suddenly find ourselves in a steady routine and no big projects on the horizon. I am now realizing that day will not come. Even after we have fully furnished the home, selected a grade school for the children, met the career ambitions on our immediate horizons, we will find ourselves at a new dawn. And truthfully, I wouldn’t have it any other way. We are industrious people with big goals for ourselves and our family. In any case, it is true, what I wrote a few months ago, that things must end to begin again, but L’Amour approaches the same observation from a different vantage, with less wistfulness and more matter-of-factness. One door closes, another opens, whether we want it to or not.

What are you beginning?

Post-Scripts.

+These floral sneakers are so cute.

+ICYMI: this is one of my best Etsy finds ever.

+I have a cakestand almost identical to this one and I love it, even for just styling a tablescape — you can use it to arrange a cluster of pillar candles or figurines on top of!

+The scalloped/tied cuffs on this blouse remind me of Horror Vacui!

+This ruffled corduroy dress would be so cute with a white turtleneck beneath on your little lady.

+Hermes-inspired wrap — can’t believe the price!

+Fun letterpress gift enclosures for every occasion.

+This tartan puffer coat is fabulous.

+Smitten with this cardigan.

+This popular floral mini is now on sale for $100.

+Someone asked me earlier this week for statement tights and I suggested Gucci, but I also love these ones from Sezane!

+OMG! This chair reminds of the Jonathan Adler I shared a few weeks ago, but only $225!

+These pink and blue candlesticks are terribly chic.

+My sister has been asking me for nursing-friendly outfits. Just came across this Staud dress, which would be perfect while pregnant and then nursing! Pair with mules.

+Love this pair of double gourd lamps at a great price.

+WOW this Anna Mason blouse and/or dress.

+Another adorable cord find for a little lady. (More picks here.)

+Have adored the print of this pillow for a long time. More here!

+Adore the color of this maxi shirtdress.

+Chic slouchy ecru overalls to pair with brown gingham.

+These chic woven sandals are $40!

+Love the colors this Bodum French press comes in — great gift for a coffee enthusiast colleague/friend/sibling.

+Ooo I love this olive dish!

+Darling Liberty floral dress for a little lady.

+These chic sheets remind me of a well-dressed man’s ascot. Pair with these shams for a tailored look.

+Mini MUST have this bow-print nightgown!

By: Jen Shoop

I shared specifics on all the exact items in my son’s wardrobe last week and got a lot of positive feedback! I thought I’d share notes on mini’s wardrobe this fall. She is 4.5 and usually wears a size 6 in pants and a 5 in dresses and tops. I’ll make notes on which brands require different sizing…my aesthetic for her was tiny cord-centric prep.

toddler girl outfits for fall

+Gap jumper. I find Gap runs TTS and I love jumpers to pair with turtlenecks (<<mini owns this exact striped one) and collared tops. My two favorite collared tops in mini’s current wardrobe are this one from TBBC and this one from H&M with an on-trend exaggerated collar. I find TBBC runs big in everything but their pajamas (which run long and narrow), so I sized down to a 5 in the top. H&M runs a tad small, so I ordered a 6 for her. I will say that in general I find it’s worth the investment to buy good-quality pima-cotton collared shirts because they are workhorses! Can be layered beneath sweaters, worn on their own with jeans/leggings, paired with jumpers, etc. I know a lot of you reach out asking for peter pan collar basic tops for your littles. For younger girls, you cannot beat Kissy Kissy. For older girls, I love the styles at TBBC (though they are a bit more on the “flouncey side,” usually with a ruffled cuff and/or piped collar on the larger size) and Little English. I find the latter runs a tiny bit short and small but I like the un-fussiness of the design as a staple.

+Amazon embroidered cardigan. This is not the best quality cardigan I’ve ever encountered but it is precious. I also bought mini several of J. Crew’s solid Casey cardigan — some are deeply discounted at the moment. These run small — I would size up, especially since these are layering pieces and will often be worn over a layer of cotton!

+Hair bows — mini has been wearing longer velvet and satin hairbows. The satin ones are a really great value and decent quality. I love the way they look when I tie her hair into a low ponytail.

+Mini’s Patagonia fleece from last year still fits in a 4T. Hers does not have the hood shown in the linked style, but I wish it did! More versatile and warmer that way. These coats are built to last! I also bought her this inexpensive sherpa fleece in the teddy brown color (I have the same style in my size) and this quilted barn coat. I love the latter — it has a nice weight to it, has a hood, and I like the length and lining. It’s the perfect October/November coat because it’s not super bulky, has a slight coating that makes it suitable for a light drizzle, and goes with everything in her wardrobe!

+Amazon sherpa fleece vest. Mini hates vests so though I wanted to get her a faux fur style for the fall, I instead bought her this inexpensive sherpa style in the event she’d refuse to wear anything at all, and I have so far been correct in that decision.

+RL oxford top. I love (!) this style of top to put under jumpers or pair with jeans. Classic! I ordered her a 6 in this and it fits a tiny bit roomy but I think she’ll have it for this season and next.

+Vejas. I like this velcro style. I find this brand generally runs small. Mini wears a size 10, so I ordered her the European equivalent of an 11 and it was pretty roomy. They work fine with thicker socks though.

+Cecil + Lou gingham dress. I find this brand runs big. I ordered her a size 5 in this and a few other styles (including this navy cord beauty and a bib collar dress similar to this I had monogrammed) and the fit is solid. I think C&L’s aesthetic is generally a bit boxier/more exaggerated than I’d like, but this style is super sweet. I like to style it with cableknit tights (<<these are great quality for the price and come in really good colors) and boots. I intentionally sized up to an 11 in the boots (she usually wears a 10) to accommodate thicker socks/tights. I’ve mentioned this elsewhere but Gap’s shoes last a season or less — not particularly well made — but sometimes you can get them at such a bargain and I tend to like the styles.

+Floral smocked blouse. This is just such a good value for the style – I love the various prints/colors and it’s the cutest (and easiest) everyday outfit paired with $5 Old Navy leggings, which are my perennial favorites for mini (I find the fit is perfect, the colors are great, and I don’t groan when they’re stained!), and a big bow.

+Pink cords. These are such a great dusty pink color that work beautifully with sage green, blue, white, tan, navy, etc. I also ordered her these cord leggings (run super slim) and these ones, too, in the khaki-green color. I generally try to buy solid bottoms because in the past when I’ve purchased patterned pants/leggings, they rarely get worn because I find them difficult to pair with tops unless I intentionally buy something as a set? But this year I did buy mini these ribbed floral leggings because the colors really went with the pieces I’d bought in her wardrobe, and I bought her this neutral-colored sweatshirt to pair with it just in case I find there’s nothing at all that goes.

+Cord skirt. I couldn’t not! The color is fabulous again! Right now, I’m stalking this RL sweater in the hopes it will go on sale for her to pair with it. Too cute.

+This cableknit cardi-coat was TOO GOOD to pass up. I’m waiting for it to arrive in the mail as we speak but feel it will be ideal for layering over every single thing in her wardrobe.

+Striped fleece sweatshirt. Sized up to wear oversized with those navy cord leggings and these exact jeans, which are classic.

+Cienta t-straps. Just a classic. Can be worn with dresses, with/without socks, with jeans, with skirts/shorts! Anything.

+Adorable plaid jumper to pair with the matching collared shirt. This was her first day of school outfit but it’s gotten a lot of mileage since the shirt can be worn on its own with jeans or underneath the green cord jumper or with skirts!

Not seen above, but mini also has a couple of peter pan collar dresses from Luigi that are a cinch to pair with leggings and Cientas for everyday wear, and I’m also eyeing this cute turtleneck dress as well as this fair isle cardi (which would go with everything in her closet) at the moment.

P.S. More adorable little girl finds here and here.

P.P.S. Things I love about my daughter.

P.P.P.S. Mothers and daughters.

By: Jen Shoop

After what felt like a two-year drought, our social lives are at the brim. I made it a top priority to (aggressively!) reconnect with friends and family when we moved back to the D.C. area in July, and we have done a lot of hosting at our new home, which still feels like a delicious novelty after Manhattan living, where (pre-COVID) friends would perch on the arms of the sofa in our living room or we’d drag x-benches in from the bedroom to create extra seating around our tiny drop-leaf dining table. Here in suburbia, there are chairs galore! Space to move around! A porch with both a dining table and a sitting area that have been a God-send during these COVID times! (All the exclamation points!!!). And so we have giddily invited rounds of friends and family to outdoor happy hours and dinners on our porch, and it has been a heady refresher in the logistics of hosting. Below, a few thoughts…

  1. The ideal dinner party size is six. Four is lovely and intimate, but six is a downright festive affair. And eight is too many. Trust me. With six, everyone can still participate in the conversation but there is room to break off in smaller side-chats if appealing. With eight or more, the conversation is inevitably, permanently fractured, or it feels like “ahem, the speaker has the floor” if you attempt to boom over the chit-chat to engage everyone.
  2. If possible, we have a neighborhood teen come by and play with the children during the day, while doing as much meal prep and mise-en-place as possible. This means we can get a lot of the work out of the way ahead of time, without the onus of parenting while attempting to dice onions. I also feel it sets a much more leisurely and enjoyable pace for the event — I am actually able to enjoy the process! Which is the whole point, right? I am having friends over! This should be fun!
  3. If further possible, I use the last hour of that sitter’s time to shower, blow-dry hair, maybe do a mask, and get fully dressed for dinner. I love feeling put-together and being able to enjoy the getting-ready process. It makes the dinner party feel that much more special. My favorite vibe for at-home dinner parties is barefeet with a cinch-waisted midi/maxi dress, loose waves, and statement earrings — pulled together but not too fancy. A few favorite seasonally-appropriate dresses of this sort: this Summersalt, this Mille (I own in a different colorway), this Boden (I own in the “figgy pudding” color), this Veronica Beard, this cord Daydress, this Wiggy Kit, this Ralph Lauren, this Target, this LR, this bronze SEA, and this Daphne Wilde.
  4. I always try to run all of the errands (including purchase of fresh flowers, picking out wines) and completed all the chores (i.e., ironing table linens — some chic fall tabletop finds here) the day before the dinner party. Again, the aim is enjoying the gathering! I hate when I’m running around like a chicken with her head cut off just before guests are arriving.
  5. Mr. Magpie and I always talk through the menu days and days in advance. We prioritize dishes that can be prepared ahead of time or par-cooked, and that will be fairly easy to pull together at the end, i.e., we are not going to be making risotto or grits that need to be stirred and monitored over a hot stove for 20-40 minutes while guests are lingering in the background. We’ve oven outruled pizza because it always feels like a lot of last minute prepping and opening and closing the oven, and then the pizzas come out at different times and Mr. Magpie is never sitting down while it’s hot. Dishes like French potato salad, on the other hand, that only improve by sitting in their own vinaigrette at room temperature, are perfect for this reason. Fresh pasta, if rolled out ahead of time, is also an attractive option because it takes only a minute or two in boiling water to cook and then you can toss with the pre-made condimento and be done with it. (And it’s always such a dramatic presentation! Who doesn’t love fresh pasta?!). I’m a fan of pork loin roast as a fall dinner party dish because you can marinate/brine it ahead of time and put it in the oven when guests arrive and then just tent until ready to eat. (Look up Zuni’s pork loin recipe — the brine is so simple but yields the most succulent, well-seasoned meat!)
  6. I always (!) prepare dessert ahead of time, sometimes the night before, even if it’s a pie — I just return to the oven at 300 for 20 minutes to heat through again. If I’m too busy/overwhelmed to bake from scratch, great ice cream or sorbet is always a fabulous ending to a meal that requires zero work. My favorite ice cream brands are Jeni’s and Ample Hills, and Mr. Magpie’s is Van Leeuwen. Make it fun by serving up in coupe and adding one of those old-fashioned Pepperidge Farm pirouette cookies on the side! Old-school is in! (Trust me — shrimp cocktail is making a comeback!) My sister also sometimes serves up sorbet in a coupe topped with champagne, and it is SO fun and festive and easy!
  7. Mr. Magpie and I indicate to our guests the timing, i.e., “why don’t you come by around x and we’ll eat around y.” This ensures people know what to expect and aren’t wondering if they should load up on the appetizers. It gives a nice structure to the evening, too, and helps us backward-plan the logistics, which usually involves a delicate hand-off around bedtime for the children. We predesignate which of us will own the bedtime routine and which of us will entertain the guests at that time.
  8. Even if we have a proper appetizer planned, I like to set out nibbles by the wine glasses, on coffee tables, etc — things like marcona almonds, olives, cheese twists, Ranch crackers, high-end kettle chips (bonus points if truffle flavored), Virginia peanuts, cheez-its. I love to serve a variety of these items in a little condiment server like this or this. If you’re serving olives, I have a little dish for discarded pits and eat one olive in advance and place a pit in there so people know where they go! If heartier appetizers are being served, these are the BEST tiny plates for nibbles. It’s nice to have plates on hand versus napkins if there are bigger bites served – gives people a home for their crumbs, toothpicks, napkins, etc.
  9. We have music playing and candles lit well in advance of guests arriving. Good lighting and good music make everything feel inviting and can completely change the atmosphere. Plus, the house never feels quiet if there’s a break in conversation! For newer friends and older relatives, we usually put on Apple Music’s “Piano Bar Playlist,” which feels like it was borrowed from Bemelman’s Bar. For younger/closer friends, I put on my more eclectic dinner party mix, which has pieces from Lake Street Dive to Redbone to Taylor Swift.
  10. I pour myself a glass of wine before the first guest arrived — so inviting to come to a house where the party is already started, and I also find that guests have less hesitation in selecting a drink. Easier to say: “I’ll have what you’re having / whatever’s open!” (For example, if I have it in mind that I want to start the evening with a champagne cocktail, it’s easier to make people feel comfortable asking for one if I’m already enjoying one! As a footnote, if we have a specialty cocktail in mind, we’ll try to mix up a batch ahead of time, or at least pre-squeeze the citrus so everything is at the ready and it doesn’t feel like a fuss.)

What are your hosting secrets?

Post-Scripts.

+Notes on entertaining girlfriends at home.

+Notes on date nights at home.

+A simple and delicious weeknight meal.

+My favorite pasta dish of all time.

+When was the last time you felt really happy?

Shopping Break.

+I had a lot of questions about the tiered corduroy dress I wore on Instagram a few days ago, too. It is this Boden in the figgy pudding color. I took a 2P, and I’m usually a size 0 (5’0, 100 lbs) and it fits perfectly. I went with petite because I thought the length would be better — wanted it to actually be a midi length on me in this style. I have a girlfriend who is bustier than I am who bought her true size and returned it for a size up — just a heads up in case you’re in a similar boat that it runs fairly narrow in the chest.

+I wore the dress with some vintage oversized pearl earrings I inherited from my grandmother and have had a few inquiries about where to find something similar — you can find a treasure trove of fabulous vintage Kenneth Jay Lanes on Etsy like this, this, and this that look very similar.

+Speaking of KJL, I own this exact pair of 1980s KJL gold bow earrings (another pair here) and bring them out every holiday season. So fun!

+I wore the Boden dress with quilted Chanel captoes, but you can get a similar look for less with these discounted Stuart Weitzmans or these Margaux flats.

+Speaking of shoes – I have been hunting for black velvet or suede platform sandals for the winter season to pair with tights and tartan nap dresses — call me fully influenced by Nell Diamond! — but I have some specs. Part of me wants plain black velvet ones from Miu Miu (look for less here or here) but then part of me wants something with embellishment, like Nicola Bathie’s pair for Dillards, or these glitzy Miu-Mius, but I am a little intimidated by the heel height at this life stage. Like, will I really wear those around, even just for an evening here and there? The lower-heeled versions are more compelling. What say you, chorus?

+Another fabulous holiday or wedding guest shoe (under $200) in versatile black.

+A smart travel accessory for a husband — good gift for a frequent traveler.

+If you missed out on the cord overalls from Old Navy last week (sold out in a flash), Boden has some really cute ones in navy cord that feel kind of dressy/festive!

+I adore this velvet green ribbon – I bought a spool last holiday season and it’s the perfect shade of olive.

+Adore this burnished silver tray.

+Tempted by this $27 wrapping paper station with close to 13,000 five star reviews. I currently use a combination of plastic bins to keep my bows, tags, paper sorted…

+This puffer jacket is so, so good.

+Devastated that these gorgeous napkins in the “allure” color won’t be shipped until late December. Talk about the perfect napkin for a Thanksgiving table! The “cozy christmas” print is pretty fabulous though (so unexpected with the gray) and I’m eyeing the “english ivy” color for my Thanksgiving table now.

+Did you get what you wanted from the HHH launch? I did manage to snag the burgundy Jasmine velvet (!) — it was a game-time decision, because I was tempted by the Akilah but at the end of the day my girlfriend said she thought the statement sleeves on the Jasmine were really fun and I thought — you know, it will be winter, and the sleeves will make it more wearable…so went that way. I want to pair with the velvet/suede platforms I end up buying for Thanksgiving and probably these velvet and pearl drops, which I own in burgundy.

+A lot of us missed out on the HHH cropped cable knit cardigan (too cute) — some similar options below:

THIS REFORMATION

THIS ALICE AND OLIVIA

THIS PEARL-STUDDED ZARA

THIS J. CREW

THIS BOXY SOMETHING NAVY

THIS & OTHER STORIES

LOVESHACKFANCY

+Everlane liner jacket season is upon us. Have been wearing this coat daily.

+Speaking of Everlane, their iconic alpaca crew is on sale for $75 today only. And this sweater of theirs is my favorite sweater of the season. So chic in the kalamata color. Also eyeing this cropped cardigan in the brown.

+It’s hard to buy out of season right now because there is so much good compelling stuff for holiday, but this summery dress from Emerson Fry is a ray of summer sunshine.

+This quilted, cropped puffer is technically from the “teen” collection but…j’adore!

+This etched glassware set is so pretty.

+This rustic bell set reminds me of the ones I was eyeing at Ballard — cute attached to a garland/swag for the holidays.

+More fab holiday decor here.

+Statement evening look: this blouse with this pearl hair clip.

+A serum stick! Genius!

+This dress has just enough sauciness to balance out the little house on the prairie vibes. Love the nipped-in waist.

By: Jen Shoop

Target just launched a suite of festive holiday buys that are worth a look. I adore their reasonably priced ceramic houses (you can buy them individually, or as a set with tiny flocked trees, too!) — I bought a similar set from them last year and they were so fun for the children to help arrange. We set them up on top of the radiator cover in our Manhattan dining room and it was such a fun activity — and made the house look so festive. This year, I’m going to arrange them on the sideboard of our dining table!

But if there is one thing you buy from this latest launch, let it be one of their two fab tree skirts, which are sure to sell out in a New York minute. The olive green plaid is so classy and the woven…!!! So on-trend and I can’t believe the prices! (Aside: you might want to keep an eye out for the return of this $20 woven tree collar, which keeps selling out in a flash. Such a good price for a trendy look! I’ll let you know if I see it re-stocked.)

TARGET HOLIDAY 2021 FINDS

I also absolutely adore…

AS NOTED ABOVE, TWO AMAZING TREE SKIRT OPTIONS: THIS WOVEN ONE (!) AND THIS OLIVE GREEN PLAID — PREDICT THAT BOTH OF THESE WILL FLY OFF THE SHELVES…CAN’T BEAT THOSE PRICES!

THESE GLITTER TREES IN TALL AND SMALL SIZES — I MIGHT NEED THESE FOR MY DESK IN MY OFFICE!

ADORE THIS STAR GARLAND

LOVE THE COMBO OF THESE STOCKINGS: OLIVE CHECK AND IVORY VELVET

I MENTIONED THIS IN MY HOLIDAY POST LAST WEEK, BUT AN INEXPENSIVE SET OF ORNAMENTS LIKE THIS IS THE WAY TO GO WHEN YOU’RE FIRST BUILDING YOUR COLLECTION…THESE ARE SO CUTE I THINK I NEED THEM TOO THOUGH!

THIS BLUSH ORNAMENT SET IS ALSO BEYOND — I SPECIFICALLY NEED THAT SHAGGY DOG IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER

SUGAR PAPER ALREADY HAS SOME FAB HOLIDAY WRAPPING PAPER — LOVE THESE STARS, THESE DOTS, AND THIS SCALLOPED TISSUE…TRUST ME WHEN I SAY YOU WILL NOT FIND BETTER QUALITY GIFT WRAP FOR SUCH A GOOD PRICE ANYWHERE ELSE! I STOCK UP ON THIS!

NOT SPECIFICALLY HOLIDAY, BUT THIS VELVET BOLSTER IS $20 AND COMES IN SUCH CUTE COLORS

*Seen in collage above but not from Target: this bay leaf garland and beautiful ribbon in sand and terracotta.

And a propos of nothing at all, I have been really into long tunic sweaters this fall, and I just ordered this under-$40 style in navy to test.

P.S. Fabulous Etsy finds.

P.P.S. What do you splurge versus save on? Comments are interesting!

P.P.P.S. In case you’re in the mood to organize. More of my favorite home gear here, too!

By: Jen Shoop

Q: What footwear do we wear with the new cropped/not skinny at all jeans? In this nice fall weather I’ve been wearing clogs but once it gets cold…

A: I hear you on this dilemma! I really love the new silhouette of wider-leg cropped pants/jeans with a velvet/suede mule or pointed toe flat like these, these, or these. (Or even my beloved VV furlanes!) I feel like the elegance/elongation of the slightly pointed toe balances out the “stubbiness” of the denim cut, while velvet is just super on-trend, and so it makes the whole look feel fashion-forward. That said, a classic pointed toe ballet like this would be a timeless fit. However — ahh!  I know you live in Boston, so this is going to be super tough for you since it is so cold and I can’t imagine baring even two inches of leg in a Boston/Chicago winter.  So if you need to go full-on boots, I would take cues from this chic pea. I’m not sure how practical you feel it will be to wear high heels with children in tow, in a Boston winter, but I think she’s nailing the look.  If you do go this route, I would 100% endorse LR’s Goldy boot.  It’s a forever piece and I doubt it will ever go out of style.  I’m not sure if you’ve ever worn their boots, but they are made for the long haul.  I have a few pairs I’ve owned for over a decade that I still wear (!!!) and have just resoled once or twice.  Super good investment, and so versatile. If the heel height is intimidating/impractical (side note: just had a flashback to one time wearing heeled boots without realizing I was going to have to walk home with mini strapped to me in the Baby Bjorn…whoops…highly dangerous), I also think a slouchy suede boot like this would look good tucked up underneath the hem (imagine with ecru/white denim).

Or, hot take: you could go with Converse high tops a la the stylish lady above!

Q: Nursing-friendly outfit for my son’s Christening in November!

A: Congratulations, mama! I think a nap dress in the brocade or tartan would be pretty, layered beneath an embellished cardigan. I also love CE Finn’s shirtdresses, which I would style with navy suede pumps, a sweater over the shoulders, and a padded headband. Finally, this Sandro zips down the front and is so elegant!

Q: Shoes to wear with leisure wear that aren’t tennis shoes.

A: I have seen chic peas pair leggings/joggers with shearling Birkenstocks (or this fancy upgrade pair), and all the supermodels are wearing Ugg mini boots with theirs at the moment. (Google Kaia Gerber.). Finally, more of a fashion-forward situation, but I have seen people style leggings with lug-sole boots and boxy sweatshirts and look fab!

Q: Fall family photo outfits for me, son, and husband.

A: So special to have these. I shared some coordinated fall family looks here, but I’m also thinking this corduroy-centric post could be a good launching point for a casual aesthetic. However, if I were having my photo taken tomorrow, I think I’d want to wear a patterned fall dress like this, this, this, or this with suede boots and a padded headband, and then I’d coordinate my son and husband in corduroys of the same color, i.e., if you go with the brown color, these cords and this shawl collar sweater on my boy, and these cords and a fall button-down like this. Resist the urge to match too much — a few different prints in the same/similar/complimentary colors will look pulled-together!

Q: Low key patterned pants.

A: Fun!!! Low key is not in my vocabulary, so just sharing some fab printed pants…

THESE VBS ARE SOOO CHIC

I SWEAR THESE SCARF-PRINT ONES ARE NOT AS WILD AS THEY SEEM — PAIR WITH A NAVY CASHMERE CREWNECK AND CHANEL BALLET FLATS AND BOOM

THESE WOULD BE CHIC WITH CABLEKNIT OR FAIR ISLE ON TOP

Q: Wedding guest dress for NYE.

A: This velvet Reformation or this Saloni will let everyone know you understood the assignment — both are festive and seasonally-appropriate without being over-the-top. Finish with these shoes and RDR moon/star earrings. (Or, pair those glitzy accessories with this spectacular navy satin dress — wowza! Classic, timeless, and elegant.) If you want to go glitzier, check out this feather-trim MacGraw or this stunning belted sequin gown. Or zhush up your favorite LBD with these fun shoes!

Q: Winter wedding guest dress — formal.

A: Love all these winter weddings! I shared some thoughts immediately above, and there are even more options here. If you are fashion-forward, you might also consider this dramatic statement! For a Charlotte York moment, I can’t even deal with this velvet and tartan RL. Some designer went out on a limb for that one, and WOW. And for something of-the-moment, this velvet wrap dress with spectacular platforms.

Q: New fashion tights.

A: I have gotten wear out of these Gucci logo tights the last few seasons. So fun to pair with an LBD and — this season — black suede platforms or velvet ones!

Q: Casual but cute clothes for college classes. I want to look put together but not too formal.

A: Love this! I would invest in a few pair of jeans/corduroys/pants you love that flatter you (some on-trend ideas here) and then go trend-forward with (but spend less on) knits/blouses. A few great under-$100 finds I love:

THIS CARDIGAN

THIS EXAGGERATED COLLAR BLOUSE

THIS STRIPED TURTLENECK

THIS PLAID SHACKET

THIS RIVER ISLAND BLOUSE

THIS SMOCKED TOP

THIS GINGHAM BLOUSE

THIS COLLARED SWEATSHIRT

THIS PUFF-SLEEVED BLOUSE

Finish all of these looks with clogs like these or these or these trendy clog boots.

Q: Travel garment bag (under $200 preferably).

A: Hope you’re going somewhere fun! I’ve had this minimalist under-$50 one on my Amazon wishlist for over a year after Emily Hertz recommended it from one of her trips! I also have my eye on this Neely + Chloe, but it’s much more expensive. Also a touch over budget, but this Barrington one is customizable and very chic!

Q: Baby shower gifts!

A: I like to combine an item that is really practical (a list of my newborn must-haves here — I also have specifically given these Love to Dream swaddles to like five new moms because I didn’t know about them until a few weeks after my second was born and they were SO helpful — micro was always writhing out of his swaddle to keep his arms up by his face; this enables him to sleep like that but was so snug he didn’t wake himself up with the startle reflex; these Kyte sleepsacks also make a good purchase for when baby has outgrown the swaddle; and if your mom friend doesn’t have an OXO wipes dispenser, she needs one) with something really sweet and mildly frivolous, like this baby sweater, baby pram shoes, or an heirloom-quality outfit like this from Jacadi or this from Luli.

Q: Budget-friendly dress for husband’s 40th birthday party — outdoor, early November, upscale casual.

A: This Target dress! I always get compliments on it, it’s very comfortable, it can be layered beneath a cardigan/with booties if it’s too chilly, and it’s just SO gorgeous. Really reminds me of a piece from SEA. If I had my druthers, I’d pair with velvet shoes to winterize the whole vibe. The Nesli nap dress would also be super chic in one of the fall/wintry prints. And this turtleneck dress could be super chic with tall boots!

Q: Sneakers that won’t get ruined in the rain.

A: If you’re talking fashion sneakers, try Supergas! They are canvas and I’ve heard some people put them in the washing machine! If you don’t want to go that far, you can just scrub with a little powdered tide and a toothbrush, which is what I often do for my children’s canvas sneakers (specifically Cientas and Supergas) and they come out good as new. If you’re talking fitness/athletics, try Nike’s Weatherized Pegasus. I had a pair of these I wore in Chicago because I was always running through damp/wet/slushy conditions and they really do keep your foot pretty insulated, whereas a lot of the other lightweight sneaks I wear are almost like sponges.

Q: Boys’ fleece!

A: I love Patagonia on little ones – the quality and styling is top-notch. Luckily, I’ve been able to make most of my children’s fleeces stretch for two seasons so far, so size slightly up and make it work. I have purchased both the Retro-X style and the Retro Pile styles. Love both — the hood on the latter is convenient. I also like this J. Crew style for little boys (Gap has a similar style for less) and this $22 pullover steal. More children’s outerwear and footwear for fall here!

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