Puzzle season — such a clever metaphor for self-care now that I think of it: seeking small bits of color, and shape, that fit.
A thrill to watch my boy fall in love with reading, and begin to see the text-heaviness of the world come into focus. We are deep in the phase of “what does ONLY spell”?
I brought my children to Georgetown Visitation, my high school alma mater, last weekend, and found myself throttled by memory on this visit. When I think of the school now, I think of Elizabeth; the two names ellide. Grief, and memory, operate in such a way that some places turn into people, or maybe it’s the other way around. Anyhow, I think so often of Elizabeth running across the slatted footboards of this specific stretch of balcony off the campus’ quad. I can almost feel her there now. I asked my children for a nice picture as I stood here wavering with farklemptness, and this is what I got — ha. But it’s OK; their silliness presented as an unexpected therapy. (What would it be like, I kept wondering, if she were still here? Would her children also stand with them? Foolish daydreams, but –)
Herds of memories here, in my high school’s Founder’s Hall, and through its iconic green gate.
My girl on the bench my classmates and I dedicated to Elizabeth.
My son, mainly delighted by the treats. We have entered a tough era of getting him dressed. To begin with — is this a boy thing? — the minute he gets home, he strips off all his clothes and refuses to wear anything but boxer-briefs around the house. You cannot ply him to put on a stitch of clothing beside. And when we are going out, everything in his closet is “too fancy.” They are not, of course! I have completely reversed my more stringent dress codes of their earlier childhood years, determining that was not a battlefield I wanted to die on. They have sweatpants and t-shirts aplenty, like all of their little friends. But sometimes, when we are going to dinner, or Mass, or visiting with grandparents, I request an actual pair of pants (jeans, even!) and a nicer looking top (even just a sweatshirt with a clean motif), and all hell breaks loose. He did however delight in his new Pehr shirt — it has a New York design to it that he loves, as a New Yorker by birth himself (the brand has other patterns). He has also liked this teddy bear fleece sweatshirt from the same brand, seen below.
I know all parents believe their children are the most beautiful creations on the planet, but he really took my breath away this morning. And per my previous note on clothing he deems “unfancy enough to wear,” thank God for Cadets shorts. He loves them, especially “the club” style (more of a performance material) and their retro-style mesh shorts, and so do I.
My in-laws’ dog, McDuff, and my girl, sharing a special moment. Partly spurred on by that gorgeous, searching essay by Na Mee that I shared earlier this week, I thought a lot about our Tilly girl. It was such a gift to know she was leaving us, and to have that time to love on her before she went, to have the clear-eyed awareness that I was sitting in the middle of “the good old days” with her at my feet those mornings before she passed. Normal day, let me praise you…
Spurred on by my love for Rooney’s recent novel, Intermezzo, I re-watched the “Normal People” series on Hulu, which is a beautifully shot and acted adaptation of her first novel. There is a part in it where Connell talks about the first time he and Marianne dated one another, how he knew even as he was in it that it was one of the best moments of his life; how he’d never been happier prior, or since. I thought what a gift to know when you are in the swell of something exceptional. To hold onto it, and not let it pass you by unremarked, unadored, unanointed.
On Saturday night, Landon made fresh egg pasta, which he rolled into a fun shaped called malloreddus and served with a sausage-saffron ragout. He continues to consider this pasta cookbook by Missy Robbins a kitchen essential. I bought him these beautiful handmade wooden pasta making implements(and these cutters) last Christmas, and it was fun to see them in use. Tilly, at home on Christmas afternoon while we were at my in-laws last year, got a hold of one of the tools from the kit and gnawed its wooden handle. We were so annoyed at the time, but now we look at it and see it as another impression of the lost.
A stream of holiday packages arrived this week — tree skirt and table linens from Julia Amory; melamine tray, ornaments, and tags from Rifle Paper (not pictured: a ton of their gift wrap — AND they just reached out to offer us 25% off sitewide with code SHOOP25), an Embers candle from Linnea (like Diptyque’s Feu de Bois but less). We aren’t far off…
Contemplating buying a pair of these fabulous silk dupioni holiday pants from Julia Amory — should I go with silver or green? (Reminder that JEN-15 gets you 15% off.) // I love the idea of pairing the latter with a tuxedo style shirt (20% off with JEN20). // Perfect holiday drops. // A new holiday puzzle on its way to me. Will pull out on Thanksgiving. We are usually 1000-piecers but these 500-pieces options fit perfectly on the little table in our newly appointed living room, and are easier for our children to work on. // This velvet Doen dress is in my cart. // So many of my favorite beauty brands have launched the cleverest little gift sets for holiday — consider this Roz kit and these Merit beauties. Great for gifting, of course, but also for travel and on-the-go! // These taper candle holders would look so chic with these velvet bows tied around the base for Thanksgiving. // My new wicker trees.
By: Jen Shoop
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+BUT YOU CAN DO THE LITTLE THINGS: A beautiful reminder from Whitney Hanson, discovered here:
+ALEX MILL 60 SECOND GIFT GUIDE (Sponsored mention): Alex Mill has a fabulous set of curations of chic holiday gifts, organized into clever categories, like “only wears neutrals” (we all know this woman). A few of my personal picks: 1) This red fair isle sweater is an iconic gift (and a personal favorite in my own closet), and 2) you can’t beat their cult favorite Nico sweater. The latter somehow works with virtually any style – minimalist, maximalist, trendy, classic – and any age. These suede and shearling mittens will be in her possession forever — a forever buy. And how fabulous is this canvas tote with initials custom hand-painted onto the side?! Think about how much we all schlep on a daily basis — would be perfect for any woman in your life, from a grad student to a workerbee to a new mom. Alex Mill also has fantastic gift options for men: what man doesn’t look handsome in a beanie (especially in red)? And this sherpa fleece would be a welcome addition to any man’s coat rack. I also absolutely love this rugged lined work jacket — eyeing for Mr. Magpie, along with this masculine henley.
+EYEING + BUYING: On the fashion front, I had to order this little knit capelet from Zara. I can’t wait to layer over pointelle tees (<< a few Magpies have written to say they prefer the pointelle from Marea to the Leset I have been swearing by! Curious to try…) And I just ordered my second pair of Agolde pinch waists (TTS). I like the crop length for us shorties — though I still need to have this pair hemmed a bit to hit at the right part of my ankle, you could totally wear them as they arrive. I love all the barrels and wide legs but sometimes you just need a good classic straight leg to work with certain shoes, tops, blazers. And two festive additions to my wardrobe: a great burgundy cardigan (note the jewel buttons) — I like the idea of unbuttoning a few buttons and tucking into the Agoldes — and some fun holiday Mary Janes from Larroude.
Also this week: my Rhode order arrived. I finally gave into the hype and I’m obsessed. The colors are semi-sheer and buildable but they actually last a long time? Love the consistency of the lip tint. And while I’m a huge fan of the UBeauty lip plasmas, I do find the taste…not great, whereas this is completely taste/scent-free. And a fraction of the price. I don’t think it achieve the same lip plumping effects of the UBeauty but the colors are gorgeous and they stay! On a totally different note, in the past two weeks, both our dishwasher and our toaster died. We bought this chic upgrade for the toaster (our research suggested going either Breville, this brand, or Wolf and we liked the aesthetics of this one — plus users love them) and a Bosch for the dishwasher. Now the mini beverage fridge in our island appears to be on its last legs, too. Why does this always happen this way?
+FESTIVE DRESSING: I’ve been collecting lots of holiday fashion inspo here, but Emme Parsons sent me this spectacular pair of sequined flats (part of their just-launched holiday collection) and I felt it deserved its own little mention. I love the fashion-forward, dramatic vamp. My sister has been wearing a pair of flats like these (hers from Celine) for many years now. She’s always about 2-3 seasons ahead of the curve. I’ll never forget maybe 15-20 years ago, when maxi skirts and dresses were first coming into vogue for everyday wear, one of our mutual friends told me: “Jen, I saw your sister…wearing, like, a long skirt. Like to the ground. In Georgetown.” She was shook, or confused — and then lo and behold within a year or two, that exact gal was wearing maxi skirts regularly. She is such a great trend anticipator. Anyhow, she’s been wearing this shape of shoe for so long she probably finds it boring while I now find it fresh. Anyhow, can’t wait to style these with holiday looks this winter.
+BESTSELLERS:The Valentina sneaks! Now sold out in my espresso color at VB (I think the third time they’ve sold through that color in the past few weeks) but still available in limited size runs here, here, here. Also like them in this great heathered taupe/gray. These are my favorite casual shoe this season. I like the way they look with jeans and a sweater and of course with athleisure. So comfortable and chic! And the rubber insole gives a Loewe vibe for less than half the price. I was also delighted by how many of you bought the Phillip Lim Soleil bag — I have been wearing mine nonstop, too. It does not have a shoulder strap which initially felt like a deterrent but I actually find it very chic and easy to wear over the wrist/lower arm.
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I’m usually drafting these about five days prior to publication, hence the Halloween bats in the background! This was my Halloween daytime outfit.
MILLE TOP (THE EMBROIDERED BOWS, VELVET TIES, AND SWISS DOT!!! — 15% OFF WITH JEN15) // TWIN DOVES DENIM (COMFORTABLE AND A GREAT EVERYDAY WASH — THE CROPPED LENGTH WORKS ON PETITES! RUN TTS) // RING CONCIERGE DIAMOND HOOPS
Mr. Magpie hadn’t heard about the concept of “the ick” until we watched “Nobody Wants This” and Noah, in a heavy-handed (pun intended) attempt to win over Jeanne’s family, accidentally grosses Jeanne out. (In the episode, Noah buys an enormous bouquet of sunflowers for Jeanne’s mother, uses a cheesy faux-Italian accent, and dresses in a try-hard way — and Jeanne is completely turned off. She tells her sister: “I can’t believe I let him touch me with those giant flower-holding hands.”) Over dinner in Italy, Landon and I were discussing the concept, and he confided that one of the most profound icks of his life was watching someone else eat an oyster. We couldn’t stop laughing about this (now a forever joke between us), and began to draw up a list of icks from the brief stretch of time in our adult lives in which we did not belong to one another. It feels tawdry, perhaps, to list them all out here, but man — once we got going, we couldn’t stop. Unkempt toenails, cringe-y comments, onion breath…!
We bent the conversation back around by talking about the opposite of the ick: what were the small things in our budding romantic relationship that gave us “the swoon”?
For me, these were:
Walking me all the way to the door, and waiting to hear the lock turn before leaving
Answering my phone call on the first or second ring
When he’d reach behind himself in a crowd to feel for my hand
The first time he used a pet name for me — Lord, I can still remember the butterflies
The focus on his face while he was playing baseball/softball
Related: him in a sports uniform of any kind (bonus for backwards hat), but specifically him in his ski gear — he was on the UVA ski team — and the way he’d snap into and out of his boots? (Niche I know!)
The way he’d arrive on my doorstep, freshly showered and shaved
Paying me earnest, direct compliments — no beating around the bush! Even in the earliest days of our dating, he’d tell me, directly: “You’re so pretty” and “You’re so smart” (!!!!). As I’ve written elsewhere, if there is anything more exquisitely thrilling for an eighteen year old girl, I have yet to hear about it.
His curiosity
The way he grabbed the check on our first official date as a couple and said: “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this”
OK, your turn. What were or are some of the swoons from the early days of dating? (I wouldn’t hate hearing funny icks, too…)
+A GREAT look for less for my brown VB Taylor jeans. My one gripe with the latter is that they are a very stiff denim without much give. I own the Pistolas in a different color and they are so stretchy and comfortable.
+J. Crew Factory has some really cute holiday pieces for little ones at great prices. I picked up these tartan-lined pants and this button-down for my son.
+Speaking of tartan — !! This Ann Mashburn silk santung shirtdress is SO spectacular. Dress up with velvet heels or dress down with some flats. Perfect elegant Christmas eve dress.
+Beautiful holiday season bling: this James necklace (my favorite style of their rivieres — I own in the 15″ length) and these emerald drops!
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I wish I’d screwed up the courage to take street style photos while in Italy, because the people there — especially the Florentines — were deeply chic. The only photo I snapped was of the above men on their way to work in Como; the men in Como were beautifully dressed. A lot of sharp, tailored trousers with perfect breaks at the ankle, trench coats, wood handled umbrellas (it was drizzly), loafers. And black, black, and more black. (And can you even deal with the gentleman’s briefcase above?!)
On the women, I saw a lot of wide leg jeans, blazers (especially in plaid and houndstooth), loafers, trench coats, and black. The vibe:
You can recreate the look for less with a blazer like this or this. I feel like the look was a bit oversized in Florence — almost worn like a top coat versus a blazer. So you could do this J. Crew Factory one I’ve been sharing but maybe go up a size or two to get the vibe? For loafers for less, try these or these (I also saw a fair amount of lug sole boots and loafers — these would be cool); for jeans, these.
I’ve been wanting a classic trench for awhile, and I ordered this well-priced Mango one. My plan is to see how often I reach for it / style it, and if it’s frequent enough, I’ll eventually invest in a Burberry. I also love Sezane’s take for something in between.
For affordable cashmere crewnecks, I can’t implore you to try Quince’s cashmere assortment more. They have $49 crewnecks in loads of colors, but in my opinion, the jewel is this $69 shrunken cashmere sweatshirt. The silhouette and fit read more modern/contemporary, and I find myself reaching for mine constantly. I have one in a marigold color that’s now sold out but I think I might buy in either gray or brown? The gray is calling my name. Imagine with great jeans and a blazer? I take my true size (xs) and find it’s flattering on its own or layered over a slim-fit button down (this one is my favorite). And final note on Quince cashmere: their sold-out-in-a-minute Mongolian cashmere cardigan is back in stock for pre-order. This has been the dark horse of my fall wardrobe. I wear it all the time — a perfect top layer over a fall dress, or layered over a blouse or tee with jeans. It has a nice structure to it and is unbelievably well made relative to price. (You can also upgrade to the Jenni Kayne Cooper, upon which it is probably modeled, although at least two Magpies have written to say they own both and can hardly tell the difference between the two.) I love it so much I am contemplating buying the black or brown? Can’t tell how much I’d wear the black. I am more of a brown / taupe / ivory person these days?
Back to Italy for a second: the other really chic thing I spotted was a family (I believe they were speaking Hungarian) at Passalacqua. The mother and daughter were both wearing (I’m almost positive) Emilia Wickstead; I’m 90% certain the daughter was wearing this to dinner. Wow. Even Mr. Magpie commented on them!
Will wrap up my thoughts on our Italian sojourn with a recap of our three nights in Como soon (details of our Tuscany visit here) — let me know if you have any other questions about our trip.
We drove to Como from Lupaia in Tuscany. I’m reticent to recommend the same mode of transit, as it was a long schlep (six hours thanks to an hour-long jam owing to multiple car crashes), and I can’t say the A1 is particularly scenic north of perhaps Bologna. It is flat and squat highway driving, some of it through long tunnels. It may have been more palatable had we been able to stop in Modena (our original plan — we’d have loved to visit the Ferrari museum and one of the famous acetaias in town), but flooding deterred us and we drove straight. Still, there was something ease-filled about being able to leave when we wanted, not having to herd our luggage from taxi to plane/train, not contending with car rental return. We just got up and drove, and our travel agent Allison had arranged to have our car picked up from our hotel the following morning. Big, huge warning though: driving along Lake Como is harrowing. The roads are ultra-narrow, sometimes with less than a few inches clearance on either side, and they bend almost like switchbacks. We narrowly steered our boat of an SUV through the Passalacqua gates. But then —
Reader, words cannot adequately communicate the opulence and over-the-top-ness of this diadem of a luxury hotel perched on the west bank of Lake Como in Moltrasio. As a writer, my job is to bridge the lived physical with the abstract, and in this case, my casting in language will fall laughably short of true experience. Every detail of every inch of this immaculately groomed and designed hotel astounded me. We pulled up to the spectacular awninged main building and a woman wearing a long black robe (we meant to ask about this uniform — it read as “monk-like” and must have some sort of grounding in Como history) escorted us immediately into the reception area while our bags were taken discretely to our room and our car was wordlessly parked for us. The receptionist then guided as across the magnificent property of terraced gardens, pools, tennis and bocce courts, and other miscellaneous manicured lawns that lead down to the hotel’s private dock on Lake Como, at which a fleet of elegant wood-paneled boats wait.
The view from the front doors of the Passalacqua hotel.
Looking back towards the hotel from one of the terraced gardens at Passalacqua.
We wandered through the exquisite dining rooms, libraries, and hotel bar — all elegantly and traditionally appointed — and through the cave-like sauna, pool, and spa before arriving at our corner suite, which overlooked a greensward onto the Lake itself. I hope you will not consider me inane, but when the door closed behind us, I actually welled up with tears. Mr. Magpie and I have never stayed in anything approximating the luxury of this hotel. I had a fleeting sense of impostership. This, for us?! Mr. Magpie poured us a glass of the sparkling wine they had waiting for us in the room, and those sensations gradually dissipated — ha.
Waiting for us in our suite — sparking wine, treats, and clementines. (The entire mini bar was complimentary and restocked daily). Upon arrival, the receptionist gave me a corsage!
Had to snap a photo of myself to make sure I was actually alive / real.
The view from our room. I couldn’t stop swooning.
As recently as five years ago, the property was privately owned; after its purchase, the mansion was re-outfitted, maintaining many of the original details and preserving the traditional spirit of the place (the original owner of the mansion was named Passalacqua, and his crest boasted a three fish pattern — an insignia that can still be found everywhere in the hotel), but incorporating modern amenities. Because of this, the hotel marries contemporary, new-world finishes with Como’s more iconic ornate feel. Think handsome brass light switches, bedside adapters, wired and hidden speakers in both bedroom and bathroom, heated towel racks and floors, a TV disguised as a mirror, all alongside velvet drapes, elaborate intaglio ceilings, and upholstered everything.
The service here is impeccable — discrete, friendly, highly trained in the art of hospitality. We joked that there was likely a staff-to-guest ratio of 3:1. They even have a full-time florist arranging flowers at the station seen below all day long. After we pinched ourselves at our good fortune and I lollygagged and swooned out the window for a good thirty minutes, we wandered down to the outdoor bar that overlooks the pool to enjoy a (35 euro…! be warned!) cocktail. But when I tell you this place is magic…! The romance of these opulent mansions against the drama of the lake and the sheer drop of mountains around it! All I can say is that I understand why Verdi and Puccini composed their operas here.
View from the Passalacqua outdoor bar.
The florist’s station at Passalacqua.
After our cocktail, we wandered through the tiered lawns again. The hotel was remarkably quiet during our entire stay — it often felt that we were one of only a few patrons — but we also wondered whether that wasn’t strategic on the hotel’s part in some way. They do a good job of spacing out guests in the dining room and only permit a few patrons in the sauna/spa/pool at a time. We availed ourselves of the sauna, steam room, and pool two days in a row, and had the entire place to ourselves both times. Wildly romantic and luxurious.
View from the top terraced garden of the hotel; you can dine here on pleasant nights.
The hotel’s clay tennis court.
After exploring the property on our own, we relaxed in our room, showered, and changed for dinner, which we had pre-booked at Passalacqua’s sister hotel, The Grand Hotel Tremezzo (GHT). Our agent had steered us to consider either GHT or Passalacqua for our stay in Como, and I spent some time deliberating between the two. There are many Reddit threads debating this exact topic if you’re interested. It seemed to me that most people were raving about Passalacqua and that while many well-traveled Redditors have strong connections to the more traditional and long-standing GHT, there were some rumblings in the margins that it has gone ever so slightly downhill in the past year or two. I can’t speak to that, but I can say that we have nothing negative to say about Passalacqua — only a rave, five star review. The other hotel I might consider if we go back is The Mandarin Oriental, across the Lake. Several Magpies raved about this hotel in the same breath as Passalacqua, and the captain of our boat (more on this below) specifically pointed it out as one of the most revered destinations in the area, alongside Passalacqua and GHT.
If I am honest, I regret that we had dinner at GHT’S La Terrazza Gualtiero Marchesi. It’s 30 minutes from Passalacqua, and we were tired. Mr. Magpie did not want to drive after seeing the types of roads that wrap the Lake, so we arranged through the concierge to have a private car take us, wait for us, and then drive us back, which was extremely pricey for a dining experience that was similar to what we could have had at Passalacqua (where we would end up eating two nights later, and I much preferred the latter). While underway, we saw a pedestrian struck by a car, which was terrifying, and also sort of what we’d been breathlessly expecting. I don’t understand how the cars fly around those roads like they do while pedestrians are pinning themselves against the walls of buildings to let them by. A dark point of the night — though it did seem the gentleman struck was OK.
It was interesting to see the sister property, which felt even more ornate and traditional than Passalacqua, with a resplendent foyer and set of ballrooms. I am aiming to be polite and recognize how special and opulent the dining experience was at GHT, but it was my least favorite meal of the trip. It is a deeply romantic venue — on a terrace that overlooks the moonlit Lake — but I felt pandered-to in a way that I didn’t like. There were multiple comments by different servers along the lines of “the woman gets what the woman wants,” “let me guess, the lady wants the lobster macaroni,” and wink-wink-nudge-nudges to Landon, and I was given a menu without prices while Mr. Magpie’s did have them. I can appreciate tradition, and the staff probably has a sophisticated lock on their usual customer profile, but the entire thing left me a tiny bit…hm. We had of course known this going into the dinner, but the prices were extreme. We still exchange sarcastic comments on the plate of steamed vegetables we ordered to the tune of 38 euro. This place is a destination, and a flex, and I get that, but still. On the flipside, the experience taught me something about Mr. Magpie and I: while we appreciate fine, traditional dining in small and special doses, I think that when traveling we tend to prefer the more authentic local cuisine in smaller trattorias and cafes as a way of learning and appreciating a food culture different from our own. Anyhow, bring out the world’s tiniest violin. It was all magic, it was all over-the-top, and I was pinching myself every single minute — but trying to keep it real in case you are following my notes for future trip-planning. I would probably skip GHT and if you are in search of a fine dining experience, go to Passalacqua! More on that below.
The next morning, we enjoyed one of the epic “complimentary” breakfasts in the hotel dining room. (Complimentary in quotations as you are paying a lot of money to stay at Passalacqua.) You can order anything you’d like a la carte, and then they have two rooms in the kitchen lined with an unimaginable assortment of cakes, pastries, jams, spreads, cured meats, tinned fishes, cheeses, butters, fruits, yogurts, eggs, breads. It was staggering and beautifully displayed. Neither of us are big breakfast eaters, which is a shame. I could barely finish a bowl of yogurt and a cappuccino, and they brought out a four foot tall server of different special bites and brioches and the like, and then seemed surprised when we declined to order anything off the menu!
The dining room at Passalacqua, ready for breakfast.
One of two rooms full of breakfast offerings.
Even my purse had a throne at Passalacqua.
After breakfast, we had chartered one of the hotel’s boats for a private tour of Lake Como. This was the high point of our trip to Como. It was so romantic and so beautiful, and I liked the privacy of it — just Landon and I canoodling in the back of the boat, our conversation just for us over the hum of the motor. The captain did idle at a few strategic parts of the Lake to indicate points of interest — Clooney’s house being one of them! — and offered to let us walk around Bellagio (one of the most popular towns on the Lake, with good shopping), but we decided we were happy to stay where we were and view from the boat. The boat itself (named “The Didi” and built by Lake Como’s legendary Cantiere Colombo shipbuilder) was one of those glorious retro lacquered-wood beauties, and came fully stocked with wine, beer, soft drinks, etc and a sun deck and swimming platform we could have enjoyed had it been warmer. We toasted ourselves with glasses of champagne while taking in the sights. It was something else — a major golden moment. If you are planning a honeymoon, and contemplating Como, just know that this is it. As romantic as it gets.
Mr. Magpie aboard the Didi on Lake Como.
Me on the most romantic place on earth with the LOML.
After the boat, we wandered into Moltrasio in the rain and stopped to eat at a restaurant Landon had flagged called Trattoria La Moltrasina, on Via Francesco Raschi. It was empty save for us, and we enjoyed delicious plates of pasta (Landon had lobster and I had a mustard green and orecchiette dish) in its warm, clean dining room, before navigating the stepped, terraced streets and plazas back to the hotel for an afternoon in the sauna/steam room/indoor pool.
Exploring Moltrasio in the rain.
The indoor pool was something out of a movie — you walk through dim caves (which I am sure date back centuries) that have been modernized with jewel-like light fixtures to arrive at a long, narrow rectangle of a heated pool boxed in by tall panes of glass that overlook one of the gardens. We were alone in the pool, and it was raining, and wow.
We cleaned up and enjoyed a cocktail at the plush indoor bar afterward, where we were thoroughly charmed by the waitstaff and the bartender, the latter of whom had designed many of the elaborate cocktails on the menu and was eager to explain their complexities.
The hotel bar at Passalacqua.
We had been toying with the idea of walking back into town for dinner, but it was dark and rainy, and we instead opted to put on a movie and order room service. This was the only time we ate pizza on the entire trip (!), and it was absolutely delicious! The Passalacqua kitchen was a serious business — that crust was incredible.
View from our room at dusk.
Room service night, complete with Passalacqua’s insignia-emblazoned slippers.
In the morning, we had a private car take us to old Como itself, where Allison had arranged a food tour of Como for us. The food part of the tour was underwhelming, but it was a fantastic way to learn about the city, the region, and its proud history by foot. Como is charming, and full of chic people, and our guide was delightfully eager to share her hometown with us. We had hoped we might try the region’s famous perch and risotto dish while on this tour, but this was not on offer — I do regret not trying it while in the region; you might make a note to order it when you first have a chance. The highlight of the food tour was the gelato from Gelataria Rossetti — the only time we had gelato in Italy and delicious. I had a concord grape flavor I still think about.
Exploring old Como by foot.
After the food tour, we went back to the sauna/steam room/pool for a second visit, and then read and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. If we had a little more gas in the tank, I would have liked to visit one of the beautiful museums or public gardens we’d driven by in the boat, but we also had pretty rainy/drizzly weather while in the area, and were flagging a bit towards the end of our trip.
We decided instead at the last minute to splurge on our final night by dining at the Passalacqua hotel, and I’m so glad we did. It was the cherry on top of an other-worldly, sumptuous trip. We went in hungry (possibly the only time we’d felt hungry the entire eight days) owing to the meager offerings on our food tour, and I’m so glad we did. The food was incredible, and rich, and well-portioned. When we arrived, we were the only patrons in the dining room, and there was a pianist playing elegant jazz piano just for us. I mean, can you even?! We ordered a foie gras appetizer, white truffle pasta (how could we not?), and sole meuniere, which was filleted table-side. Every single course was exceptional, and the waitstaff deeply attentive, and I felt like a little princess in a soap bubble of a dream. I will never in all my years forget that night, the lavishness and glamour of it all.
Dinner at Passalacqua, with a pianist!
My handsome date.
A little private dining nook — every corner is just so romantic.
In the morning, we ate a quick final breakfast before heading to the Milan airport. If I could have had a few extra days, I would have loved to visit Milan — three nights felt perfect for Como and I don’t know that you need more? — but suddenly we were boarding our plane and bidding Italy arrivederci…!
As always, feel free to send any questions via the comments, and please share if there are things we missed!
Scheduling this republished essay from the archives in advance of the election’s results. Not sure what I will be seeking this morning, but love is always a good start.
***
It’s just that,
we are here for such a short time,
and with our loved ones for even shorter.
Strange to think that we might pass more hours this year with parents at our children’s schools, or neighbors, or colleagues, than we will with our own cherished elect.
There is a Sufi meditation prompt:
“If you knew you were going to die in a year, what would you do?”
Then:
“And if you knew you were going to die in two hours, what would you do?”
Visions of seeing the Northern Lights, of tasting oysters just-plucked and still-hearty with Puget Sound merroir, of standing, chest heaving, at the summit of a fourteener,
give way to curling up with my babies,
and leaning my head on my mother’s shoulder,
and holding my husband’s hand.
It is so small and simple, what matters most:
the notes on the counter in familiar cursive: “Jennifer – I thought you might like these,” and “Not yet ripe,”
the dog ecstatically wagging her tail — her body radiating with recognition and joy — at your return from the supermarket,
the sticky popsicle kisses, the stick-figure drawings shoved under your door in the morning,
the withdrawal — without prior coordination — of two spoons from the drawer for ice cream after dinner,
the squeal of glee from your son when he catches sight of you, surprising him with school pick-up,
the way he sprints across the playground, arms windmilling through the air,
the animal pureness of his response: this chirp of recognition, this irrepressible need to press his face into your arms,
the daily, ambling phone calls with your mother, talking about what you ate for dinner and whether or not you will be at the anticipatory Mass,
the “You make me happy,” whispered while watching a movie under blankets in the air conditioning of your basement.
At the end of it all, I don’t need to have lived large. In fact, I think I am on the right track if it feels as though I am living lilliputian instead.
It could be that my entire universe fits on a couch,
That true happiness fits snugly in the palm of my hand, and squeezes it.
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+The lovely sister-owned small business March Hare sold out of their spectacular double wrap watch (I own in black — Cartier vibes but under $400), but have now restocked for pre-order. MAGPIE20 gets you 20% off.
+Our toaster died from over-use last week (waffle breakfast fiends) and we just ordered this chic style as a replacement/upgrade. (Also looked at Smeg, but have heard they are enormous and not particularly reliable.)
+I have to say — these mildly ridiculous platform slippers are one of my favorite possessions. So snug and cozy. I bought mine last fall and wear them every morning and evening. Like pillows. I also like the non-sherpa option. Other slippers worth a look: the Bombas Sunday slipper and, not a slipper exactly, but I also wear these a lot around the house: these Rothys clogs. They have such great arch support — almost feels like a massage under your foot.
I’m at a bit of a loss as to what to write today, when our attention is, importantly, elsewhere. So instead I will share a few points of inspiration that I’ve found life-affirming or beautiful or both in the past week.
+“Yes” by Na Mee (scroll down to the section titled “Prompt 310” — although Suleika’s prologue is also lovely and worth a read). I wept when reading this beautiful essay on loss, grief, and pet adoption. I think this might be one of the most achingly beautiful passages I’ve read in months:
***
“In my first family, not even my mother was home when she gave birth to me. She had snuck away to Busan, the furthest place a Korean can go before they walk into the ocean. Almost two months later, she agreed to let my father take me to an orphanage. My intake paperwork says that I was cute. The physician wrote that I was “probably adoptable.” I went from an orphanage to a foster family to an airplane to America to an American family. Everyone I ever knew in Korea left, including me.
They say I cried the entire way, which is fourteen hours, which is a long time to tread water. Sometimes, even now, I drown in the wake of a goodbye. I know, and Bear knows, that some people never return. I too can be alone. And, I too have tried to pry open the last door someone walked through.
Six months before I met Bear, my father (who adopted me) unexpectedly died. When grief appears on your doorstop, it brings everyone it knows. All my goodbyes bobbed at the surface.
Came in waves Left"
***
“All my goodbyes bobbed at the surface.” I mean, the craftsmanship, the centricity and visual potency of that feeling of loss. Then, at the end of the essay, this gem:
“I noticed him spin in the rain, I noticed him wait in the sun, I noticed us changing. Training Bear trained us both to sit in a world of loss and stay in it, two seconds more at a time. Again and again, Bear made me come home to my goodbyes. And, home to my hellos, to new beginnings, new ways of being.
I’ve trained him to walk on a leash without dragging me. I’ve trained him to walk off a leash and return to me. But, the best command is heel.
Heal, I’ll say, and this means we walk next to each other.
Every dog trainer will tell you, timing is everything.”
You don’t need me to tell you the many ways this made me feel. Over the weekend, my daughter told me she still panics when she accidentally drops her little bouncy ball in the house, thinking Tilly will lunge for it, and eat it. She used to make herself sick ingesting any manner of plastic toy, but she especially loved those five-and-dime rubber bouncy balls my children will bring home in goody bags. I’d usually confiscate them or ban them inside — they were too tempting for our airedale. Funny, that the impression, the instinct, remains with my daughter. Our lives become mosaics of the people (and pets) we love.
+Riley Sheehey’s book art — she has been hand-detailing the covers of antique books. Absolute treasures.
+The Author Clock: a whimsical timepiece that gives you the time via book quote. There is also a web browser version of this by Johs Enevoldsen– I sometimes keep it in an open tab and tap over when I’m hungry for inspiration.
+I am still clinging to that moment where Andrew Garfield talked about how mysterious art is, how it draws us to places we didn’t know we needed to go, or couldn’t otherwise access. It reminded me of a quote by Whitman I have in one of my notebooks: “Do you know o speech how the buds beneath you are folded?” We all cabin these complex inner networks of root and reference just waiting to be called upon by the right sets of words.
+Millie Illustrates’ Guide to November. Charming illustration, and I thought the phrase “the month in-between” was provocative. Poor November! October gets all of the upswing and December is the party? Is that how we feel? I’m not sure – Thanksgiving feels robust to me, but the string of weeks in early November do feel a bit like no man’s land, when I am sheepish about listening to holiday music, and unsure whether tartan is acceptable. How do you feel about this month — chapter 11 of 12?
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+And a couple of quick notes on things I’ve recently ordered, or added to cart, or contemplated.
GIFTS: Appointed launched its desk calendar and I am already looking forward to having it up on my desk come January. I am constantly pulling up my calendar on my phone — extremely handy to have it accessible at a glance. (I believe the code MAGPIEBYJENSHOOP gets you 15% off. I also believe their notebooks would be a spectacular gift for a paper lover, journaler, note-taker, etc.) I also love the ones my girlfriend Inslee releases each year (also just launched). Either of these would be lovely gifts for someone in the “impossible to shop for” category — they are lovely, artful, and useful. The Inslee ones feel apt for an MIL. I have been organizing gift ideas here in case you’re in the mood for some early shopping. I have to say these metallic trim, limited edition Stanleys would be a great gift for a teen, or a teacher. Try the code COLLECTIVE20 — some exclusions apply, but I think most of the Stanley website is 20% off.
STYLE: Recent orders I’m excited about here. I wore this coat to my in-laws over the weekend and loved the way it felt layered over a sweater — layers of warmth and hygge — and the button details are exceptional. And, I mentioned this yesterday, but Sezane’s Sunday drop was so good. I ordered this skirt and a top that’s already sold out (!), but I also had two dresses — this and this — in and out of my cart, taunting me. And! I ordered my second pair of Agolde pinch waist crops, this time in a darker wash (TTS). I love the au courant barrels and wide-legs, but sometimes you do need a classic straight to make certain silhouettes work (blazers, boots).
HOME: Already in holiday home decor buying mode. I’ve placed a few orders from Target — the brass card holder we all loved last week and then this set of three wicker holiday trees (large, medium, small) from Studio McGee, which will assuredly sell out. I am regretting not adding these card clips to my last order. I can imagine they’d be so handy for holiday parties. And, I ordered this fabulous tree skirt from Julia Amory (JEN-15 for 15% off). I’m sure this will sell through. More early holiday decor finds here.
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Yesterday, I realized that October had melted into November, that some of the trees in our backyard had shed all of their leaves, and that it was only 40 degrees when I prepared my family for Church — and my daughter had nearly nothing to appropriate to wear for the climate. I did a big shop yesterday for her, running each and every purchase by her discerning and particular eye, and placed the following orders. I was mainly interested in skirts and statement sweaters, as she already has several pairs of jeans —
At J. Crew, I picked up this tartan dress for the holidays (with her imprimatur!), these Chelsea boots, this embellished skirt, this cord skirt, and this ribbed, striped tee.
At Zara, we selected this denim mini, specifically to wear with this striped tee and this sweater, and threw these socks in for fun. I was lobbying for this skirt and the matching top but she was lukewarm on it, and I know what that means — those items will languish in her closet.
Finally, Gap was running a great 50% off promo (still is!) so we picked up some items from there, too — this fair isle sweater, these leopard sherpa flats (!), another cord skirt, a few pairs of fun leggings, some pointelle tees, and these sherpa clogs.
I know many of you moms whose daughters have aged out of toddler sizing will agree that it is hard to find cute stuff for this age that isn’t either super glitzy / text-heavy or too babyish for their tastes? I like the items from the three retailers above — more or less, child versions of what I’d wear! We’ve also had some good luck at Bisby and Danrie this season — more for special events rather than everyday. I love the options from Ralph Lauren for her age, but she’s usually unimpressed. Any other suggestions?
The final hole I need to fill in her wardrobe is a pair of casual boots. She asked for cowboy boots again (she wore these Amazon ones all last season – surprisingly well made, so I might just reorder those) — I was shocked when she didn’t leap at the chance for a pair of Uggs?
Final note – Julia Amory launched her tree skirts and other holiday linens over the weekend, and the tree skirts will sell through! I selected this one (JEN-15 gets you 15% off)! Fun to switch things up. And! Sezane’s drop yesterday was epic and many of the styles have already sold through. I ordered this adorable skirt (the velvet ties!) and this statement blouse.
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Good morning! Writing a caveat that the next few days are full of anxiety for many of us, myself included — please take care of yourself. I will continue to post diverting content if you’re seeking escape or distraction, but you know what you need. Onward…
This morning, republishing an edited version of last year’s Magpie Guide to Thanksgiving for those of us looking ahead to the next holiday, which isn’t that far off after all. Like last year, today I am also sending a special Thanksgiving newsletter to my subscribers (you can sign up here) with our Thanksgiving menu, our favorite Thanksgiving recipes (several Shoop family favorites for decades and decades), a calendar in which I plotted out exactly when to shop for what and at what time to start cooking everything, a Thanksgiving playlist, a few shopping finds for the holiday (you can find some of them in my Amazon shop and this collection of finds), and, of course, The Prayer, which so many of you have adopted in your own family traditions. I’ve lost count of the number of Magpies who have written to say that this simple prayer has brought them, and their loved ones, to tears, as they break bread together, positively shocked by the good fortune of all we have. It cuts to the quick, doesn’t it? I’m sharing the prayer below, but you can also sign up here and receive the full “Magpie Thanksgiving” email.
If you’re looking for Thanksgiving outfits, I shared several ideas here.
Like last year, I spent some time sifting through photos from Thanksgivings past, and again, I am awash with sentiment. Looking at my life through the clusters of photos I’ve taken this time of year over the course of the past decade reminds me how urgently I must take care to live where my feet are, as each year has presented such difference. Things lost, things gained: new cities, old homes, new babies, older parents. How different life looks plotted against a decade of late Novembers, how unbearably beautiful. As I wrote elsewhere, “What was unremarkable then turns out to be great now.” The flights home, the clutter and clatter of pans with all of my siblings bumping elbows over the stovetop, the early days of motherhood, when Thanksgiving felt a tad straining because, on top of the usual heavy responsibility of feeding the babies, putting them down for naps, changing their diapers, keeping them contained (or not), we were meant to dress everyone nicely and set the table and have a feast by four. All of it, every detail, now gilded with greatness.
Nothing will be the same in a year — in ways beautiful and painful.
And now, a walk down memory lane: snapshots and annotations from nine beautiful Thanksgivings. Proof positive that I want for nothing.
Mr. Magpie, Pre-Babies, 2014, at my parents’ house in Washington, D.C. These were the days (before children) when all of my siblings and significant others (some weren’t yet married!) would descend on my parents’ home for a big, everyone-cooking-in-the-kitchen melee. There was so much laughter and wine and warmth in that house.
Mr. Magpie and my beloved father-in-law, 2015, Arlington, VA. (Everyone, including friends and grandkids, calls him Doe.). Champagne in the basement (probably watching football) before Thanksgiving dinner. We used to sleep on the pull-out couch in the basement and I have the fondest memories of staying up late watching holiday movies and sneaking up for a midnight turkey sandwich.
Thanksgiving While Pregnant with Mini, 2016, Chicago. My in-laws flew in.My mom had purchased me this dress from a maternity shop on Michigan Ave in Chicago. She insisted I buy “one or two nice maternity dresses” and “a good winter maternity coat” and I felt so cared-for. May I also say that I look at this photo and notice my crooked teeth and remember how I rarely smiled for photographs for years and years because I was self-conscious of them. I’m so glad I took this photo of myself while pregnant, as I have few of them! — and am also so glad I finally got Invisalign so I could make space for more important things than worrying about my smile. But also: should I cut my hair into a bob again?!
Thanksgiving with my baby, 2017, New York City. We’d just moved to the Big Apple and felt strained and alone. I wrote about the experience here, and how Mr. Magpie welled up with tears while reading the Thanksgiving prayer.
The Macy’s Parade, New York City, 2018. We lived on Central Park West at this time, and one of the absolute delights of living there was that they’d block off all of CPW to street traffic and it was even difficult to get there by foot — you had to show an ID that proved you lived on the block! We were able to trot downstairs and get a front-row view of the parade. I look at this photo this year and miss my Tilly girl. Our first Thanksgiving in eight years without her under foot.
In the second photo: had to show off the way I used to dress my little dolly. The big bows! The embroidered dresses! The pom pom knee socks! Do it while you can, mama. Dressing her like this was one of the greatest joys!
Our second NYC apartment, 86th and Columbus, UWS, 2019, with my new baby. My in-laws drove up for the coziest holiday. Can you even deal with micro’s chunkiness?! The rubber band wrists! The thigh rolls! It’s so delicious. The photo of my FIL with micro is one of my most cherished. The good stuff.
Making the best of Thanksgiving during the pandemic — are the COVID beard and mask telltale enough? UWS, 2020. I still got everyone dressed up to the nines. I so clearly remember the walk we took through Central Park before Thanksgiving dinner, and how much I missed family this year.
Thanksgiving 2021, Bethesda, MD. Our new suburban home! We hosted a big crowd this year, and I took very few photos as a result. It felt full and busy and slightly frenetic but also joyful after several years of very quiet Thanksgivings.
Thanksgiving 2022, Bethesda, MD. We hit our stride this year with hosting Thanksgiving for a crowd. Such a happy day for me — funny enough, my major memory from this day was actually after dinner, after the children were in bed, enjoying the whole ‘fare la scarpetta’ with my husband, sister, and brother-in-law. We were sitting around the kitchen counter, blasting music, drinking wine, nibbling on leftovers, for hours.
Thanksgiving 2024. My children colossally disinterested in my photography. To be honest, this holiday was challenging for me, as I was going through a very tough time with a family member, and it clouds a bit of my happy memories. But we publish the good news, right? So I am choosing to remember how full our kitchen was, and how well the meal itself turned out, and how happy the morning of Thanksgiving was — watching the parade, cooking together. Onward.
+Lots of great tabletop/home finds for the holiday here. Love this turkey platter (great price and reminds me of the turkey dish from Williams Sonoma) all Emile Henry bakeware (I cherish the few I own!), and these chic, well-priced cloth napkins.
+If you have a cheeky fam, these “superlative” placecards would be hilarious. I’ve used these and the past and they’re always such a great conversation-starter.
+I reference this in my menu/notes, but we use this Aldo Sohm book and this one to help with wine selection all the time. They both provide great ideas on what to drink with what you’re eating, including what to serve with Thanksgiving dinner. (The TL;DR for Thanksgiving — for red: gamay, pinot noir, zin; for white: gewurtzraminer, gruner veltliner).
+Every year, I give my children Christmas pajamas to change into after Thanksgiving dinner. I already have some holiday styles from Lake and Petite Plume waiting for them!
+As we head into holiday season, remembering the ultra-fun retro cocktail party we put on while watching Kasey Musgraves’ campy holiday special. We’ve done this the past two years! Think espresso martinis, swedish meatball on toothpicks, etc.
+Also for fall/winter festivities: treat yourself to some glitzy earrings! I wear these ones constantly.
P.S. We compiled all Magpie recipes into beautiful cards for your kitchen! Get the recipe card collection in your inbox here.
P.P.S. If you, like me, are already thinking ahead to Christmas, too: I’ve begun to organize my gift finds here, and my holiday decor/home finds here.
By: Jen Shoop
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Some self-care and self-cultivation prompts I’ve been leaning on this past week —
“You create your own weather.” A Magpie reader left this in a comment; I keep thinking how powerful it is to meet setbacks and frustrations with a sunny, or breezy, disposition. Conversely, whenever I am gathering storm clouds, everything looks like rain, you know?
“Spend ten extra minutes now for a better next ten hours.” I’m botching the language, but I saw this on Instagram and forgot to “save” it in any way — yet the sentiment stuck. Ten measly minutes to walk outside and put my feet in the grass in the morning. Or, ten tiny minutes to do a skincare routine, to move your body, to pray, to sit in quiet, to journal, to blow-dry your hair. In other words: what are the little things we can do in the morning with just ten minutes to make for a better day overall?
“Don’t believe everything you think.” I came across this phrase in the Goop newsletter, via this piece by Joseph Nguyen on letting go of painful thought patterns. Put differently: feelings are not facts, and are not final. I find myself much more aware of the fluidity of my emotions these days — even anticipating how something that cuts now will feel better in the morning. Everything is a flowing. I read somewhere a few weeks ago that middle-of-the-night spiraling is actually a physiological phenomenon — if we’ve gone to sleep and wake up in the middle of the night, the parts of our brain that can help us rationalize our thinking are not yet awake, and we are not yet capable of thinking clearly, disarming worries, etc. I don’t know if this is true, but the concept has been reassuring. Sometimes I wake up in a gasp of worry and tell myself, firmly, “Jen, the part of your brain that can quiet this worry is still asleep. That’s all this is.” It’s strangely comforting? And it helps me put myself back to sleep. Some of the language in Nguyen’s essay rings strident (“thinking is the root cause of all suffering”…?) but I like his proposed sequence of pausing, asking, understanding, etc when our thoughts are circling the drain a bit too long — especially the notion of proactively seeking ways to calm the nervous system.
What concepts or frameworks have resonated with you this week?
A lot of buzz around this quiet luxury, Celine-coded $128 clutch after the founder of Dorsey wore it. // Base layers I’m contemplating adding to my closet: this Donni and this SoldOut. // I’m loving all of these holiday beauty gift sets brands are releasing – I want them all for myself? Like how cute is this just-launched Jones Road set? IMO, the perfect white elephant gift. // Vuori’s new wide leg lounge pants are calling my name. But while we’re talking athleisure, I just got my second set of Varley. I’m telling you, if you’re looking for polished athleisure, Varley is it. I love the silhouettes, the material, the rich colors. This time, I’m trying the cuffed version of the slim pant with the Betsy sweatshirt. // Guys, I am going crazy over all things Iris & Romeo — they just work. Great coverage, amazing skin-feel, perfect finish. I’m currently using their concealer and foundation most days, and have you tried their reset spray?! OMG! I am obsessed with using it in the afternoon when I need a little zhushing, or any time I glance in the mirror and look a little cakey/tired/dry. // I’ve never seen these Serena and Lily lamps discounted so deeply – 50% off! // OK, I had added this fancy detergent to cart as a part of the Credo sale but then I discovered the brand had relaunched its collaborative detergent scent with The Ouai after it had sold out 2x. I had to order the rose scented one! I can’t wait to use for towels, etc. // Rifle launched its holiday gift wrap! I always stock up on their rolls and sheets. Just placed a huge order. // You all know how I feel about this color…love!
By: Jen Shoop
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+ANDREW GARFIELD ON WHY ART IS IMPORTANT: I loved this clip of an interview with Andrew Garfield, in which he is visibly moved by a short essay he is reading aloud. He explains: “It’s so mysterious. This is why art is important — because it can get us to places we can’t otherwise.” I recently re-watched “Little Women” (Greta Gerwig version, though I love both) and found myself crying for almost its duration. There are some overtly sad parts of the film that would challenge even the stiffest of upper lips, but it was stirring something else inside me, too: the powerful emotions around the complexities of sisterhood and the shock of growing up. (The morning Meg is getting married, Jo says: “Our childhood is over.”) It took me to a set of emotions I didn’t even know I was strumming, or needing to strum.
+SPEAKING OF ANDREW GARFIELD: Did you join the millions of romance-loving woman who went insane over the Andrew Garfield-Chicken Shop Date situation? Here’s all you need to know: Amelia Dimoldenberg hosts a YouTube show called Chicken Shop Date where she goes on first dates with celebrities and she and Andrew Garfield have been seriously flirting on the red carpet for awhile (watch these charming clips of their banter here), and they recently had a Chicken Shop Date. Heart-racingly adorable flirtation. By the way, one of Chicken Shop fangirls described the show as follows, and I love it:
On that note, a) apparently I need to watch “The Last of the Mohicans” (seemingly, a Magpie Reader Starter Pack essential — see comments here) — I have penciled this in for when Mr. Magpie is out of town on business in a month; and b) any seasonal romance recs?! I’m looking for something cozy holiday vibed.
+LESET LAUREN PANTS: I keep coming back to these chic knit wide leg pants from Leset. I absolutely love the elegant styling on the site — has anyone ordered?! I know they’ll be too long and will require hemming…but I’m obsessed with their ease, their silhouette, their simplicity. Which color should I try? Meep!
+FLOW WRITING: Do you have a hobby that occasionally consumes you? Gardening, painting, golfing, etc? Every now and then when I am writing, I get into this state of mind I call “flow” that almost feels out-of-body, or self-displacing, and I am completely unaware of anything I’m doing and instead in the grip of some other greater sensibility, or force. It’s as though the words are floating through me onto the page, unmediated. I had one of these sessions this week with my fiction project. I’m curious if you’ve experienced something similar, and whether you ever been able to discern its provenance? Is it related to conditions, or somehow inducible? I am probably halfway done with this project and it nips at my heels constantly, and occasionally draws me into a flow. Fascinating and mysterious.
On a related note, do any of you Magpies work for a literary agency? I am not trying to query/pitch, but I have some questions I have been unable to get the answers to. I would be indebted if you would be willing to chat!
+ELEVATED SWEATS ON SALE: Today and tomorrow, PerfectWhiteTee has discounted their popular Ziggy and Heart sweatshirts as well as their Steve sweatpants — use code ZW2024 for 20% off. I really love the mushroom colored sweats.
+EYEING + BUYING: So many of you ordered this brushed cashmere sweater and now I want in, too! When I was at Lupaia in Italy, the concierge had the chicest nail polish color; I asked after it, and it was Chanel’s Rouge Noir. A perfect dark burgundy. I ordered immediately! Also on my mind this week: can I be a fedora gal? I was on the fence but Janessa Leone generously offered to send me one of their classic fall hats and I took a risk with this gorgeous beauty. It arrived and I think I can pull it off. Stay tuned for styling. It is so chic and packable! Great cool weather solution for the many of you who wrote that you are religious about avoiding sun. Finally, I am shopping for my children’s Thanksgiving outfits. I now know enough to serve up an edit of options to my daughter and let her pick from the curation. I am wondering if she’ll pick this one (my personal favorite of the lot).
+THIS WEEK’S BESTSELLERS: As mentioned above, this brushed cashmere sweater has been very popular among Magpies! I have been seeing lots of brushed/fuzzy sweaters recently. Love the idea of pairing with a sleek pair of coated or leather pants.
